What you need to know today
Welcome to our rolling coverage of the conflict in the Middle East. If you’re just joining us, here’s what you need to know today.
- Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei released his first statement since being appointed. It was read on state television by a news anchor. Khamenei, who succeeded his slain father and has not been seen or heard since his appointment, was quoted as saying Iran would not refrain from “avenging the blood of its martyrs” and vowing to keep blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
- US officials said Iran had started laying mines in the strait, indicating the country is making good on its promise to block marine traffic from moving through the critical oil choke point.
- The US has confirmed it is temporarily lifting sanctions on Russian oil to contain price surges caused by the effective closure of the strait. The US Treasury was providing a “temporary authorisation to permit countries to purchase Russian oil currently stranded at sea,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
- Israel launched a new wave of strikes on Lebanon, targeting buildings in central Beirut.
- Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced a release of 400 million litres of diesel and 300 million litres of petrol from Australia’s onshore fuel stockpile to help address shortages, as service stations and wholesalers run dry amid widespread panic buying.
- An American KC-135 refuelling aircraft went down in Iraq, the US military said. Central Command said it lost it in “friendly airspace” over Iraq, and that the incident was not the result of hostile fire or friendly fire.
- A French soldier has died during a drone attack in Iraq, French President Emmanuel Macron said. Earlier it was reported six French soldiers had been injured in the Kurdistan area of Iraq and the origins of the drone remained unclear.
- The UN refugee agency has reported that up to 3.2 million people have been displaced inside Iran since the conflict began on February 28, while close to 800,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon.
‘Hidden hand’: UK defence secretary claims Putin guiding Iran’s tactics
The UK’s defence secretary has suggested Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, are guiding Iran in the tactics the besieged nation is using in its retaliation to US-Israeli strikes.
“No one will be surprised to believe that Putin’s hidden hand is behind some of the Iranian tactics and potentially some of their capabilities as well,” John Healey said at a military briefing in London on Thursday.
“Patterns of Iranian attack have the hallmarks of the way Russia is attacking Ukraine,” he said, adding that was to be expected “knowing how closely that alliance of aggression has been growing over the last few years.”
Russia and Iran have deepened military cooperation after Moscow turned to other US foes for support after its global isolation following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Trump spruiks FIFA World Cup amid global tensions
Donald Trump is spruiking the FIFA World Cup as geopolitical tensions escalate and travel disruptions cast a shadow over the tournament which will be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.
“The United States of America looks very much forward to hosting the FIFA World Cup. Ticket sales are ‘through the roof!’,” the president wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
“It will be the Greatest and Safest Sporting Event in American History. All Players, Officials, and Fans will be treated like the ‘STARS’ that they are!”
Iran’s sports minister told state media earlier this week the nation would participate “under no circumstance”, while Iraq’s team asked FIFA to reschedule the nation’s World Cup play-off game because of the disruption to air travel in the Middle East.
The cup’s chief operating officer has ruled out postponing the tournament in June because the operation is too complex.
US, Israel must promise no future strikes for Iran to consider ceasefire: sources
Iran has told regional intermediaries that the US must guarantee neither it nor Israel would strike the country in the future in order for the besieged nation to consider a ceasefire, several officials familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.
Iran was particularly concerned Israel would attack again after the current war ends, said the sources, who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive matters.
It is unclear if the US is willing to give Iran such a pledge and if it would be able to insist on Israel doing the same.
The back-channels were being facilitated by European and Middle Eastern countries, the people said.
Bloomberg
Coalition dissatisfied with government’s fuel release announcement
Following Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s press conference announcing the release of fuel stores, opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan criticised the government for failing to address Australians’ fuel security fears sooner.
“From what we heard from [Bowen] half an hour ago, there is nothing that has reassured me and reassured the Australian people because it’s clear. He doesn’t have a plan. What I want is Chris Bowen to fix this problem,” he said.
Tehan suggested Bowen should consider reducing standards on diesel like he had for petrol. Yesterday the government announced fuel quality standards would be lowered for 60 days to inject about 100 million litres a month of dirtier petrol marked for export into the domestic market to alleviate shortages.
Asked whether the opposition would consider advocating for a cut to the fuel excise, Tehan said: “We’ll have a full response as to what we will do to address the cost-of-living crisis when Angus Taylor gives his budget in reply speech in May.”
What you need to know today
Welcome to our rolling coverage of the conflict in the Middle East. If you’re just joining us, here’s what you need to know today.
- Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei released his first statement since being appointed. It was read on state television by a news anchor. Khamenei, who succeeded his slain father and has not been seen or heard since his appointment, was quoted as saying Iran would not refrain from “avenging the blood of its martyrs” and vowing to keep blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
- US officials said Iran had started laying mines in the strait, indicating the country is making good on its promise to block marine traffic from moving through the critical oil choke point.
- The US has confirmed it is temporarily lifting sanctions on Russian oil to contain price surges caused by the effective closure of the strait. The US Treasury was providing a “temporary authorisation to permit countries to purchase Russian oil currently stranded at sea,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
- Israel launched a new wave of strikes on Lebanon, targeting buildings in central Beirut.
- Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced a release of 400 million litres of diesel and 300 million litres of petrol from Australia’s onshore fuel stockpile to help address shortages, as service stations and wholesalers run dry amid widespread panic buying.
- An American KC-135 refuelling aircraft went down in Iraq, the US military said. Central Command said it lost it in “friendly airspace” over Iraq, and that the incident was not the result of hostile fire or friendly fire.
- A French soldier has died during a drone attack in Iraq, French President Emmanuel Macron said. Earlier it was reported six French soldiers had been injured in the Kurdistan area of Iraq and the origins of the drone remained unclear.
- The UN refugee agency has reported that up to 3.2 million people have been displaced inside Iran since the conflict began on February 28, while close to 800,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon.
French soldier killed, others injured in drone attack in Iraq
A French soldier has died during a drone attack in Iraq and several others were injured, French President Emmanuel Macron said.
Earlier it was reported six French soldiers had been injured in Erbil, in the Kurdistan area of Iraq.
Macron said “Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion died for France”, adding an “attack against our forces is unacceptable”.
Six French soldiers were wounded during a drone attack in Erbil in Iraq, Reuters and AFP have reported.
Reuters reported the soldiers had been taken to a nearby medical centre for treatment according to a source in the French army. There were no further details given on the nature or extent of the injuries.
‘Un-Australian’ to profiteer off fuel shortage fear: Bowen
Bowen has slammed people who are reselling fuel online to take advantage of rising fuel prices and fears of shortages.
“I’ve seen it on Facebook marketplace… selling fuel at inflated prices. That is un-Australian. It’s dangerous. It shouldn’t be done now.”
Bowen said it was only a few people engaging in predatory practices and he understood why many others were worried about fuel shortages and prices spikes.
“Other Australians see the news, maybe hear some irresponsible statements from some politicians like the deputy premier of Queensland or the leader of the Liberal Party in South Australia, who have engaged very irresponsibly,” he said.
“It’s confusing for people out there when they hear those mixed messages.”
Fuel relief: 20 per cent of stockpile to flow
The release of petrol and diesel from Australia’s stockpile represents 20 per cent of storage currently being held in the country.
Up to 762 million litres of petrol and diesel will flow into the market over the coming days and weeks, to address regional shortages.
The Albanese government created a minimum stock obligation in 2023, which is a strategic reserve held on Australian soil. It currently holds 36 days’ supply of petrol, 34 days’ of diesel and 32 days’ of jet fuel stashed at facilities across the country.
These stocks include fuel carried in ships that are travelling to the country and are in the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone.
Australia fuel supply secure, panic drives shortage
Bowen has said that regional shortages are being driven by a doubling of demand for fuel, which is being driven by widespread panic buying.
Import ships, which supply 90 per cent of Australia’s liquid fuel, have not been held up, he said.
“Our fuel supply is continuing to come in. Australians should know that. That’s what we’ve been saying. When we say fuel supply is secure, that’s what we mean.
“That doesn’t mean that Australians and regional areas haven’t faced real shortages because demand has been so high.”
Government releases fuel stockpiles amid shortages
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has announced a release of 400 million litres of diesel and 300 million litres of petrol from Australia’s onshore fuel stockpile to help address regional shortages, as service stations and wholesalers run dry amid widespread panic buying.
The government will reduce its holdings of diesel from 2.7 billion litres to 2.2 billion litres and 1 billion litres of petrol to 700 million litres.
“This is a sensible, well calibrated, well calibrated response from the government,” Bowen said.
The fuel will not be released into the market all at once but will flow over time.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
