War in the Middle East
Jet fuel supply disruption expected, Ryanair chief says
- Disruptions to jet fuel supply are expected from “early May” if the war continues beyond the end of April, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has said
- U.S. President Donald Trump has said he is considering pulling out of NATO after allies did not join his war with Iran. Trump has also claimed Iran has asked for a ceasefire
- US secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Washington could see the “finish line” in the Iran war. While Donald Trump estimated that the US would be done attacking Iran in two to three weeks
- Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they will target US companies in the region as of April 1st in retaliation for attacks on the country, state media reported
- Oil prices were set for a record monthly rise on Tuesday
Trump claims Iran has asked for a ceasefire
In a post on Truth Social, his own media blog, Trump said he will consider a ceasefire “when the Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear”.
“Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!” he wrote.
His post, in full, states: “Iran’s New Regime President, much less Radicalised and far more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE! We will consider when the Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!! President DJT”
Iran claims the Qatari oil tanker targeted on Wednesday had ties to Israel
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has acknowledged the attack on an oil tanker in Qatari waters, claiming it had ties to Israel.
Qatar was targeted by three Iranian cruise missiles on Wednesday, one of which struck an oil tanker leased to QatarEnergy in northern waters.
The crew of 21 people were evacuated from the tanker and no injuries have been reported, Qatar’s Ministry of Defence said earlier.
In a statement carried by Iranian state media, the IRGC said an oil tanker belonging to the Zionist regime with the trade name ’Aqua 1’ in the Persian Gulf was precisely targeted.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine was already cooperating with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan, and was also in contact with Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq.
The government team was also in talks on potential engagements with Turkey and several other countries, he said. – Reuters
Return if needed, Trump says
The United States will be “out of Iran pretty quickly” and could return for “spot hits” if needed, Donald Trump told Reuters on Wednesday, hours before he was scheduled to make a primetime address to the nation.
Trump also said he would express his disgust with NATO for what he considers the alliance’s lack of support for US objectives in Iran. He said he is “absolutely” considering an attempt to withdraw the US from NATO.
Asked when the United States would consider the Iran war over, Trump said: “I can’t tell you exactly …. we’re going to be out pretty quickly.”
“They won’t have a nuclear weapon because they are incapable of that now, and then I’ll leave, and I’ll take everybody with me, and if we have to, we’ll come back to do spot hits,” Trump said. – Reuters
Irish on the pulse” regarding disruptions to jet fuel supplies.
Earlier on Wednesday, O’Leary said disruptions to jet fuel supply are expected from “early May” if the war continues beyond the end of April.
The Minister said the issue was discussed at a meeting of EU energy ministers, noting that a “sizeable portion” of jet fuel comes through the Strait of Hormuz.
“If this doesn’t cease soon, there will be impacts on aviation,” he said.
“Those concerns have been raised with me, and it was something that was discussed yesterday at the Energy Council that I attended virtually yesterday.
“So the EU are acutely aware of it, and I am too. Aviation is critically important to Ireland.”
He said European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is to unveil a package on energy measures next Wednesday, which would include measures on aviation.
O’Brien said ensuring gas supplies were secure, purchasing fuel in bulk, energy storage options and affordability would be examined ahead of the unveiling of EU measures.
“In everything we’re discussing, we’ve got to protect jobs, protect the people’s livelihoods, and protect people as best we can. We’re not going to be able to soften every increase in costs.”
He added: “It’s interesting to see that the level of intervention that we have made is one of the most significant in Europe so far, but we have said that that is our first intervention.
“We have flexibility in that to intervene again should we need to.” – PA
Iranian authorities warned Nato member Bulgaria last month not to let the US use its airports for planes participating in military operations in Iran, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
In the note, Iran said it “reserves the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security and national interests in accordance with international law”.
Later on Wednesday, in a statement to reporters, Deputy Foreign Minister Marin Raikov confirmed the note and said: “Bulgaria is not at war.”
“No combat aircraft are being loaded over Bulgaria to participate in military operations,” he told reporters. “We maintain intact diplomatic relations with the Iranian side.” – Reuters
Iranian supreme leader praises Hizbullah
Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has issued a message of gratitude to Hizbullah’s secretary general, Naim Qassem.
In a statement carried by Iranian media, he praised Hizbullah for its “perseverance, steadfastness and patience” against “the most ruthless enemies of the Islamic world”, as he vowed Iran will continue to support groups fighting US and Israeli forces across the Middle East.
Khamenei has not been seen since the war began on February 28th and has only issued written statements since becoming Iran’s new supreme leader.
US and Israeli officials believe he was wounded in the attack that killed six of his family members, including his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and remains in hiding. – The Guardian
Closer partnership with EU allies required as world continues down ‘volatile path’ – Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Britain’s long-term national interest requires a closer security and economic partnership with the European Union as the world continues down a “volatile path”, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said.
Speaking at Downing Street on Wednesday, Starmer said Brexit “did deep damage to our economy”, adding that opportunities with the EU are “too big to ignore”.
“We will continue to stand up for the British national interest, and we will continue to do what we must to guide our country calmly through this storm.
“However, it is increasingly clear that as the world continues down this volatile path, our long-term national interest requires closer partnership with our allies in Europe and with the European Union,” he said
“As the chancellor has rightly pointed out, Brexit did serious damage to our economy, and the opportunities to strengthen our security and cut the cost of living are simply too big to ignore.
“In the coming weeks, we will announce a new summit with our EU partners, and I can tell you that at that summit, the UK will not just ratify existing commitments made at last year’s summit.
“We want to be more ambitious. Closer economic co-operation, closer security co-operation, a partnership that recognises our shared values, our shared interests and our shared future.
“A partnership for the dangerous world that we must navigate together, a world where this government will be guided at all times by the interests of the British people.” – PA