Iran leader calls for Hormuz closure as oil price spikes

A French soldier has died following an attack in the Erbil region of Iraq, France's president, Emmanuel Macron, has said in a post on X.

Macron called the attack on French forces unacceptable. 

"Their presence in Iraq is framed strictly within the fight against terrorism. The war in Iran cannot possibly justify such attacks," Macron wrote.

Several French soldiers were wounded in a drone attack (see entry below) on Thursday. 

 

What remains of Iran’s nuclear program, and how are the United States and Israel assessing it after the recent strikes?

William Alberque of the Pacific Forum explains what we know and what we don't know right now.

Six French soldiers have been injured in an attack in Iraq's northern Irbil region of Iraq, AFP news agency reported on Thursday, citing the French military. 

The soldiers were engaged in counterterrorism training operations with Iraqi partners in at the time, the military said.

No other details were provided, AFP said. 

The governor of Erbil said the strike involved two drones and took place at a base in Mala Qara. 

That is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Erbil, capital of the autonomous Kurdistan region.

Iran also strikes Italian base in Erbil

The attack on the French base came shortly after a separate drone strike late Wednesday on an Italian base in Erbil.

No one was injured in the strike.

Italy's Defense Minister Guidi Crosetto said the base was deliberately hit by a Shahed drone made by Iran, Italian news agency ANSA reported. 

When asked whether the attack was deliberate, Crosetto told Italian state broadcaster RAI: "Absolutely, that's a NATO base and it's also American."

Italy will temporarily evacuate its 141 remaining troops at the base, Crosetto said on Thursday.

He added that this wouldn't be easy as they would have to leave overland, "probably via Turkey."

Australia has ordered all non-essential officials in Israel and the United Arab Emirates to leave due to the deteriorating security situation:

"Essential Australian officials will remain in-country to support Australians who need it," Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a post on X late on Thursday.

Australia continued to advise its citizens against travel to Israel and the UAE, she said in an X thread.

"We urge you to leave the Middle East if you can and if it's safe to do so. Don't wait until it's too late. It may be the last chance for some time," Wong said.

There are about 115,000 Australian nationals in the Middle East, with around 24,000 in the UAE, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said earlier this week.

More than 2,600 of these had returned home as of Tuesday.

US Central Command said it is "aware of the loss of a US KC-135 refueling aircraft" over Iraq. 

"The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing," the statement from CENTCOM said. "Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely."

"This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire," the statement added.    

It's unclear whether there are any casualties from the incident.  

Iranian Ambassador to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani told journalists at the UN in New York that "we are not going to close the Strait of Hormuz."

"But it is our inherent right to preserve the peace and security in its waterway," Iravani said. 

He said the "current situation in the region, including in the Strait of Hormuz, is not the result of Iran's lawful exercise of its right of self-defense."

"Rather it is the direct consequence of the destabilizing actions of the United States in launching aggression against Iran and undermining regional security," Iravani said.     

Major economies such as China, Japan, South Korea and others are reliant on oil and liquid natural gas (LNG) tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz. Some 20% of the world's oil supply passes through the strait.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said earlier that ships must coordinate with the Iranian navy in order to pass through the strait. It comes as multiple ships have been attacked in the Gulf region. 

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told UK broadcaster Sky News that he believes "as soon as it is militarily possible, the US Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, will be escorting vessels through."

Bessent said the strategy to escort the ships would occur as soon as the US has "complete control of the skies... (Iran's) rebuilding capabilities for the missiles completely degraded."   

A US military official, however, has said the US is not in a position to protect ships as they go through the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump sounded optimistic when discussing the war with Iran.

"The situation with Iran is moving along very rapidly. It's doing very well, our military is unsurpassed," Trump said during a Women's History Month event at the White House with first lady Melania Trump.

"They really are a nation of terror and hate, and they're paying a big price right now," the president said.

Trump's optimism comes as Iranian officials have vowed not to surrender in the war launched by the US and Israel.

Security fears surrounding the safety of ships in the Strait of Hormuz have caused oil prices to spike, sparking a global energy crisis and rising fuel prices for consumers. Iran also continues to wage counterattacks on US interests, Israel and the Arab Gulf states as the war continues, meaning some Iranian military capabilities still remain intact.  

Palestinians worry that the global focus on Iran will allow Israeli settlers to intensify their attacks in the occupied West Bank. In the village of Qaryut, DW met a mother whose two sons were killed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his first press conference since the beginning of the war, said "we are crushing Iran and Hezbollah."

Netanyahu said Iran is "no longer the same" after the nearly two weeks of the US-Israeli military operation. He said there have been crushing blows to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. and the Basij paramilitary. 

He said Israeli attacks have killed top Iranian nuclear scientists. Netanyahu also said he speaks with US President Donald Trump daily and openly as the war continues. 

Netanyahu said the war is intended to help Iranians "bring down the regime," in a reference to Iran's Shia Islamist ruling government.

"But at the end of the day, it depends on you. It is in your hands," Netanyahu said in a message pointed at the Iranian people. 

Netanyahu suggeted that new Iranian Ayatollah Mojtaba Khameneiand Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem could be the next targets. 

"I wouldn't issue life insurance policies on any of the leaders of the terrorist organization... I don't give an exact message here about what we are planning or what we are going to do," Netanyahu said. 

Netanyahu called on the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shiite paramilitary and political organization which Israel considers a terrorist organization. 

"I told the Lebanese government a few days ago: you are playing with fire if you continue allowing Hezbollah to operate, in violation of your commitment to disarm it," Netanyahu said. "The time has come for you to do so. Now if you do not do so, it is clear that we will do so."    

The war in the Middle East is proving devastating for the environment. The UN warns the attacks risk severe environmental damage, from air and water contamination to major oil spills. 

The Israeli military said it has launched a new wave of attacks on targets in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

"The IDF has just begun a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime across Tehran," the military said, referring to the Israel Defense Forces.   

As the war continues, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian by phone. 

Modi expressed "deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure" in the call with Pezeshkian. 

"The safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India's top priorities," the statement from Modi added. "Reiterated India's commitment to peace and stability and urged for dialogue and diplomacy."   

India is heavily dependent on the Strait of Hormuz for its energy needs, and media reports from Reuters and other outlets suggest that Iran may allow Indian-flagged tankers to transit the strait. 

Although India and Iran still have cordial dialogue, the relationship between the two countries is complicated. 

Iran has previously criticized the Modi government's decision in 2019 to revoke Muslim-majority Kashmir's autonomy. India, meanwhiie, has close ties with Israel, with Modi praising Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month on a visit to Jerusalem just days before the US-Israeli operation began. 

The Israeli military said it has attacked checkpoints used by the Iranian Basij paramilitary force in Tehran. 

"Over the past day, the Israeli Air Force, acting on (military) intelligence, has targeted the Basij roadblocks and operatives," the Israeli army said. 

The Basij are a part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. which is staffed by volunteers who vehemently back the regime. The Basij have operated checkpoints to monitor the civilian population so they don't organize an anti-government uprising. 

Top Iranian security chief Ali Larijani said Iran will not surrender to the US.

"Trump says he is looking for a speedy victory. While starting a war is easy, it cannot be won with a few tweets," Larijani posted on X. "We will not relent until making you sorry for this grave miscalculation."   

Larijani comes from a prominent family with ties to the regime and is seen as a pragmatist who has been involved with international negotiations. He has railed against the US and Israel for starting its ongoing military operation against the Iranian regime. 

French energy firm Totalenergies said 15% of its total gas and oil output has been shutdown amid the US-Israel war with Iran. 

"Production has been shut down or is in the process of shutting down in Qatar, Iraq and UAE, representing approximately 15% of our total output," the company said. This output consists of about 10% of Totalenergies upstream cash flow. 

However, the French company said the rise in oil prices has offset the losses in output incurred as a result of the war.