Should oil companies use Strait of Hormuz? Trump's reply: 'I think they should'
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said, "I think they should" when asked if oil companies should be using the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway crucial for shipping oil and liquefied natural gas.
'Two wars in 8–9 months': Iran minister blames US, says country can't play in FIFA World Cup
Iran's sports and youth minister said it's "not possible" for the country to take part in the World Cup after the United States killed its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in its ongoing war.
Iran was expected to take part in the World Cup that will be held across North America in June, but Iranian Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali told state television that his country's soccer team players are not safe in the US, according to a video of the interview posted Tuesday.
"Due to the wicked acts they have done against Iran - they have imposed two wars on us over just eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people - definitely it's not possible for us to take part in the World Cup," he said.
Iran is scheduled to play in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 before finishing group play against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The US is hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
FIFA said Tuesday night that it anticipates Iran's national team will be allowed to come to the United States.
Last week, US President Donald Trump said "I really don't care" if Iran takes part in the 48-nation tournament.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he met with Trump on Tuesday night "to discuss the status of preparations" for the tournament and received assurances that Iran would be permitted to come to the US.
'We are having a tremendous impact,' Trump tells G7 after IEA oil stock release
US President Donald Trump praised the "tremendous impact" of decisions being made on Wednesday as leaders of the Group of Seven Nations met to discuss war in Iran and its economic consequences, according to a short video clip shared by the French presidency.
"I think we are having a tremendous impact, unbelievable actually, on the world," Trump said, after being given the floor by French President Emmanuel Macron, who chaired the G7 meeting. It was not immediately clear whether Trump was talking about the release of oil stocks decided minutes earlier.
Macron and Trump were speaking after a recommendation by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to release 400 million barrels of oil, the largest such move in the IEA history, to try to restrain soaring crude prices amid the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
International Energy Agency orders biggest-ever oil reserve release in effort to calm surging prices
The International Energy Agency agreed Wednesday to release the largest volume of emergency oil reserves in its history, in a bid to counter the effects on energy markets of the war in the Middle East.
The Paris-based organisation said it will make 400 million barrels of oil available from its members' emergency reserves.
The British government said it would contribute 13.5 million barrels of oil to a coordinated release from strategic reserves, joining other International Energy Agency members.
"With this action, the UK is playing our part in working with our international allies to address the disruption in oil markets," energy minister Ed Miliband said in a statement.
Shell declares force majeure on Qatari LNG supplies to global clients
Shell, the world's largest liquefied natural gas trader, has declared force majeure on LNG cargoes it buys from QatarEnergy and sells to its clients worldwide, three sources told Reuters on Wednesday.
Qatar, the world's second-largest exporter of LNG, announced a production halt at its 77 million tons per annum (mtpa) facility last week and declared force majeure on LNG shipments.
Shell declined to comment.
Other Qatari LNG buyers, including TotalEnergies and some Asian companies, have received force majeure notices from Qatar and told customers they would not be selling them Qatari LNG as long as the facilities remain shut, two other sources said.
A person familiar with the matter said TotalEnergies has not declared force majeure, a notice used to describe events outside a company's control, such as a natural disaster, which usually releases it from contractual obligation without penalty.
Both Shell and TotalEnergies have long-term partnerships with QatarEnergy and are partners in the company's massive North Field expansion project which aims to boost capacity by 2027.
Analysts estimate Shell takes 6.8 mtpa of Qatari LNG, while TotalEnergies takes 5.2 mtpa.
Qatari Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi told the Financial Times last week that it would take "weeks to months" to return to normal deliveries, even if the war ended today. QatarEnergy declared force majeure on LNG shipments on Wednesday.
Sources told Reuters last week that the force majeure notices sent to clients stated that LNG deliveries for March will not be affected, with the impact being felt as of April.
Get ready for 200 dollars per oil barrel, Iran's military warns world leaders
Iran's military command said on Wednesday the world should be prepared for oil to hit $200 a barrel, as three more ships came under attack in the blockaded Gulf.
Iran fired at Israel and targets across the Middle East on Wednesday, demonstrating it can still fight back and disrupt energy supplies despite what the Pentagon has described as the most intense U.S.-Israeli strikes yet.
Germany evacuates diplomatic staff from Iran and Iraq amid rising security threats
Germany has temporarily relocated staff from a number of diplomatic missions in the Middle East, such as in Iran and Iraq, because of security threats posed by the military conflict there.
"The staff of these foreign missions have been temporarily relocated due to the current threat situation," a foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday.
28 Indian vessels with 778 seafarers onboard stuck in Persian Gulf
As many as 28 Indian vessels with 778 seafarers onboard are stuck in the Persian Gulf, a government official said on Wednesday.
Of these, 24 vessels are on the western part of the Strait of Hormuz with 677 seafarers, while 4 vessels with 101 persons are on the eastern side, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said in a media briefing.
"We are monitoring all the vessels actively for their safety and security. Authorities, ship managers and recruitment agencies...are closely coordinating with Indian embassies and local authorities to ensure safety and render medical assistance to them," the official said.
The ministry continues to closely monitor the prevailing and evolving maritime situation in the Persian Gulf region and has strengthened monitoring and preparedness measures in view of the evolving maritime situation in the West Asia region to ensure the safety of Indian vessels and seafarers, Sinha said.
Regular interaction with industry and stakeholders is being undertaken to provide all assistance to the industry and seafarers.
Advisories have been issued by DG Shipping directing all Indian flag vessels and Indian seafarers to adopt enhanced security measures and strictly comply with reporting protocols, including submission of real-time details.
Sinha further said that port operations across India remain stable. Major ports have implemented operational measures, including continuous monitoring of vessel movement in coordination with shipping lines and vessel agents, real-time assessment of developments in the region, and regular reporting of vessels and cargo status.
Dedicated 24-hour control rooms are operating in the ministry and the DG of Shipping.
The DG Shipping is also maintaining contact with ship owners, operators, and assemblies of the seafarers to provide timely updates and necessary assistance.
Ports have been directed to extend all necessary assistance to minimise hardships faced by exporters and ensure continuity of EXIM trade.
Iran's new supreme leader 'lightly injured' but still active
Iran's new supreme leader 'lightly injured' but still active, Iranian official tells Reuters.
Two Indians killed, one missing after merchant vessel attack, MEA says
Two Indians killed, 1 is missing, when merchant vessels came under attack during current West Asia conflict: MEA spokesperson
US military can use Romanian bases for defensive equipment during Iran missions: President Nicusor Dan
American refueling planes, monitoring equipment and satellite communications could use Romanian military bases during the U.S.' offensive in Iran, Romanian President Nicusor Dan said on Wednesday.
The American request was approved during a meeting of the EU and NATO state's top defence council, with approval from parliament expected later on Wednesday.
Italy PM Meloni slams US-Israel war on Iran as a 'dangerous' breach of international law
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday delivered her strongest criticism yet of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, describing it as part of a growing and dangerous trend of interventions "outside the scope of international law".
Her remarks to parliament came after repeated accusations from the opposition that her right-wing government had been too soft toward its allies. Most other European nations, with the notable exception of Spain, have withheld direct critique of the U.S. and Israeli attacks, largely calling for restraint.
Meloni - who has close ties with U.S. President Donald Trump - also said Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, as that would end the international non-proliferation framework with "dramatic repercussions for global security", leaving Italy and Europe exposed to a potential nuclear threat from Tehran.
The U.S. and Israel traded air strikes with Iran acrossthe Middle East as the war stretched into its 12th day, a conflict that has halted the flow of one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies.
Addressing parliament on the crisis, Meloni drew parallels between the Middle East conflict and Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which she said triggered a broader global destabilisation.
"It is in this context of structural crisis in the international system, in which threats are becoming increasingly frightening and unilateral interventions outside the scope of international law are multiplying, that we must also place the American and Israeli intervention against the Iranian regime," she told the Senate.
Meloni said Rome was providing air-defense assets to Gulf countries hit by strikes from Tehran.
"This is not only because these are friendly nations and strategic partners of Italy, but also because there are tens of thousands of Italian citizens in that area whom we must protect, not to mention the fact that there are about 2,000 Italian soldiers stationed in the Gulf."
Shell, TotalEnergies and others declare force majeure to their clients who take LNG from Qatar
Some clients of QatarEnergy, including Shell, TotalEnergies, and other companies in Asia have declared force majeure to their customers who take Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) through them, three sources told Reuters on Wednesday.
Qatar, the world's second-largest LNG exporter, last week announced a production halt at its 77 million ton per annum (mtpa) facility last week and declared force majeure on LNG shipments.
Shell declined to comment. TotalEnergies did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment.
Airstrike targeted Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces' camp in Al-Suwaira area, 60 km south of Baghdad
Airstrike targeted Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces' camp in Al-Suwaira area, 60 km south of Baghdad: security sources
IEA to announce oil stock release recommendation at 1300 GMT, may total 400 million barrels
The International Energy Agency is set to announce its recommendation at 1300 GMT on releasing oil from strategic reserves, two sources with knowledge of IEA discussions said on Wednesday.
The release may total 400 million barrels, the sources said.
The IEA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Thailand says 3 crew missing after ship hit by projectiles in Strait of Hormuz
Twenty crew have been rescued from a Thai ship hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz but three crew remain missing, Thailand's Transport Ministry said on Wednesday.
The ministry said the crew had abandoned the vessel in a lifeboat and were rescued by the Omani navy. It said an explosion occurred in the stern of the ship and caused a fire in the engine compartment, where the remaining three crew members had been working.
Maersk has 10 ships trapped in Gulf, CEO tells WSJ
Maersk, one of the world's biggest container shipping groups, has 10 ships stranded in the Gulf and would need at least a week to 10 days to return to normal operations if a ceasefire is reached, the company's CEO Vincent Clerc told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.
IEA to recommend release of strategic oil stocks on Iran war, sources say
The International Energy Agency is recommending a release of oil from strategic reserves that would exceed 100 million barrels over the first month, two sources with knowledge of IEA discussions said on Wednesday.
The IEA did not immediately respond to a request for comment
Thai navy providing assistance after cargo ship attacked Strait of Hormuz
Thailand's navy said on Wednesday it was providing urgent assistance through international channels after a Thai cargo ship was attacked while sailing in the Strait of Hormuz.
