Markets Soar on Escalating US-Israel Joint Offensive Against Iran
Connect these dots: Bloomberg's March 31, 2026, 'Balance of Power: Early Edition' featured analysts and former officials discussing markets climbing on the purported 'hope Iran war is near end.' This optimistic framing emerges precisely as US forces, described merely as 'supporters' or 'allies' by outlets like Bloomberg, are directly engaged in offensive military operations alongside Israel
against Iranian targets. The reality on the ground, however, is a direct, undeclared war with Washington serving as a full partner in aggression, not a distant observer. This isn't a new script. The US has a long history of minimizing its direct combat roles, particularly in the Middle East, often recategorizing combat losses as 'mechanical failures' or 'non-hostile incidents.' For instance,
during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, the US supplied Saddam Hussein's regime with critical intelligence and dual-use technology, facilitating his chemical weapons program, even as it publicly maintained neutrality. This direct involvement underpinned a conflict that cost hundreds of thousands of lives, yet commentary then, much like now, often focused on market stability or geopolitical maneuvering
rather than Washington's role as a primary antagonist. The current narrative conveniently omits the escalating human cost and the illegality of these actions. While Bloomberg presents an image of impending peace and economic recovery, the Iranian government reports joint US-Israeli strikes across its territory, including industrial and defense facilities. The international legal framework,