US submarine "for the first time since World War II" torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship, vowing to control the airspace within a week! Germany and Spain refuse to participate in the war, while the UK strongly supports it.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that U.S. submarines sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean using torpedoes on the 3rd. This is the first time since World War II that an American submarine has launched torpedoes against an enemy vessel, marking a new phase in U.S.-Iran military conflict.

Hegseth also stated that the U.S. and Israel will achieve “full control” of Iranian airspace within a week, indicating the conflict is accelerating toward full-scale war.

Iran Launches Long-Term War Emergency Plan

According to Iranian state media Fars News, the Iranian government has officially activated an emergency response plan to prepare for a potential long-term war. Approved by the president and coordinated across government agencies, the plan focuses on ensuring basic supplies, maintaining production operations, and maximizing strategic management of national infrastructure.

Officials said the plan aims to ensure that even if the conflict prolongs, the country can maintain economic stability and supply chain operations, showing Tehran is psychologically prepared for a prolonged resistance.

Rift Emerges Among European Allies

There are clear disagreements among U.S. allies regarding Iran. Spanish Foreign Minister Alvarez directly denied the White House’s claims. Earlier that day, White House Press Secretary Levi stated that “Spain has agreed to cooperate with U.S. military actions against Iran,” but Alvarez responded that the statement was “completely false.”

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius explicitly stated in the Bundestag, “Germany is not a belligerent and will not participate in the war against Iran led by the U.S. and Israel.” He emphasized the high risks of escalation in the Middle East and warned, “Historically, initiating war is much easier than ending it,” and currently sees no feasible withdrawal strategy in the region.

In contrast, the UK’s position remains ambiguous. According to The Guardian, UK officials said they “do not rule out future participation in striking Iran’s ballistic missile launch facilities.” The report also noted that U.S. heavy bombers are expected to be stationed in Gloucestershire, England, and the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean in the coming days, preparing to launch attacks on Iran’s underground missile sites from those bases.

Bitcoin Tests Safe-Haven Narrative Amid Warfare

As the U.S.-Iran conflict escalates, the crypto market continues to serve as a real-time indicator of geopolitical risk for global investors. Bitcoin has recently fluctuated sharply between $66,000 and $74,000, briefly falling below $66,000 amid peak panic but quickly rebounding, outperforming U.S. stocks during the same period.

Global crypto futures open interest decreased by 2% to $93.78 billion, indicating some investors are reducing leverage amid uncertainty. However, the total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies remains around $2.3 trillion. The market’s quick absorption of war-related shocks, compared to traditional finance, has once again brought Bitcoin’s “digital gold” safe-haven narrative into focus.