Iran is firing back at targets across three separate countries, a worrying sign that a wider war could be starting.

• Iran launched attacks hitting three different countries at once.
• Shipping traffic is picking up again, with 34 ships now moving through a route that was recently down to just two or three under military escort.
• The calm on one side is deceptive — the retaliation raises the risk this spreads instead of settling down.
• The big fear is escalation: more countries getting pulled in as strikes bounce back and forth.

Outlook: If Iran keeps hitting back across borders, the conflict could widen quickly and drag in more nations.