The war involving Iran has entered its second week, with U.S. and Israeli strikes still targeting sites inside Iran. Iranian strikes have hit commercial ships in the Persian Gulf, with pressure building around the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict began Feb. 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran. Conflict has since spread beyond Iranian territory into shipping lanes, Gulf infrastructure, and regional air travel, with Iran targeting areas near Dubai International Airport.
The U.S. and Israel remain directly involved in the fighting, as strikes on Iran continue. As of Friday, Mar. 13, U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces had struck over 90 Iranian military targets on Kharg Island, including naval mine storage sites and missile bunkers, while leaving oil infrastructure intact. The U.S. military also stated that they have carried out airstrikes targeting Iran’s navy and the port city of Bandar Abbas, as they want to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
Iran has answered with attacks meant to raise the cost of war beyond the battlefield. Targets include oil fields, refineries and ships in the Gulf, with shipping coming to a near standstill in the Strait of Hormuz. Crude oil prices have climbed from $65.21 a barrel to $103.14 a barrel since the start of the conflict, a 58 percent increase. Energy prices have increased roughly 25 percent since the war began. The International Energy Agency agreed to release 400 million barrels of emergency oil reserves, a record amount, in an attempt to calm the markets.
“My family still lives in Iran, so naturally, this situation affects me personally,” said MTU Teaching Assistant Behzad Akbari. Akbari added, “Communication is sometimes difficult because the government restricts the internet and other connections during crises. I try to stay in contact with them as much as possible. Fortunately, they are safe. From what I hear from many people inside the country, civilians are not the main targets, and many people hope this situation will eventually lead to political change.” Another MTU faculty member shares Akbari’s concerns and said, “I have most of my family living in Iran. Most Iranians, including my family, have been pleading with the international community to help them bring an end to this dictatorship.”
For Michigan Tech students and faculty, the most immediate effect has been an increase in gas prices as a result of higher oil prices. Airfare prices have also increased as jet fuel prices rise, with some ticket prices being doubled or tripled. More than 40,000 flights to and from the Middle East have been canceled between Feb. 28 and Mar. 9. The U.S. State Department has authorized up to $40 million for evacuation charter flights for Americans leaving the Middle East.
Iranian students are still able to be academically admitted to Michigan Tech, but getting a visa and reaching campus has become much more difficult. Iran does not have a United States Embassy, and the U.S. State Department has listed Iran as “Level 4: Do Not Travel”. The U.S. State Department has enforced the Presidential Proclamation 10998, “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.” This proclamation applies to foreign nationals outside of the United States who did not already hold a valid visa on Jan. 1, 2026. This proclamation can disrupt visa issuance and entry with the possibility of halting them altogether.
The human toll of the war has continued to rise. Iranian authorities have reported more than 1,300 deaths in Iran. Israeli authorities have reported 12 deaths in Israel. Lebanese authorities have reported more than 680 deaths in Lebanon. United States authorities report that they have lost 11 soldiers, with about 140 service members wounded.
