On March 7, U.S. President Donald Trump said he did not want the Kurds to conduct an offensive into Iran, pouring cold water on the rumored operation, The Times of Israel reported the next day. Trump also said he would end the war with Iran in "coordination" with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while Israel's military signaled it intended to conduct one to two more weeks of strikes against Iran before shifting attention back to Lebanon and Gaza.

Global oil prices have risen significantly, and global markets slid as it became clear that the Strait of Hormuz would remain disrupted and as oil producers in Iraq and Kuwait began to shut down production due to storage limitations. Israel hit Tehran's oil depots on March 7, and the United States reportedly hit an Iranian desalination plant the same day. Iran subsequently struck Kuwait International Airport's fuel tanks and Bahrain's desalination plant on March 8, followed by Bahrain's refinery on March 9, sparking a force majeure declaration. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces signaled a military build-up on the northern border with Lebanon.