Washington, United States. The International Energy Agency said global oil supplies are expected to be hit twice as hard this month as in March, as U.S. President Donald Trump said the conflict over Iran could end soon.
IEA warns of escalating supply disruption
IEA head Fatih Birol said the main issue so far from Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz was a lack of jet fuel and diesel. He said the impact was being seen in Asia and could soon reach Europe, adding that oil losses in April would be twice those in March.
Trump comments on ending the conflict
Trump told reporters the United States would be leaving the Iran conflict very soon, saying it could be within two weeks, or possibly two to three weeks. He said Iran did not have to make a deal when asked whether successful diplomacy was a prerequisite for ending what the United States calls “Operation Epic Fury.”
NATO threat and Strait of Hormuz pressure
Trump also scaled up threats to pull the United States out of NATO if European states did not help stop Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz. In comments to Britain’s Daily Telegraph, he said he had moved beyond merely reconsidering U.S. membership in the alliance and described NATO as a “paper tiger,” adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin knew that too.
Wider economic effects and U.S. demands
The conflict has killed thousands, spread across the region and caused what the report described as unprecedented energy disruption, amid shifting and at times contradictory statements from Washington. Businesses around the world have been affected, with cosmetics and tea among the latest sectors reporting problems. The United States has previously threatened to intensify operations if Tehran did not accept a 15-point U.S. ceasefire framework that demands Iran not pursue nuclear weapons or uranium enrichment and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
How do you think continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could affect fuel availability where you live?
