Iran-US war live: Trump threatens to blow up key Iranian gas field if Tehran strikes ‘innocent’ Qatar againnewsline24

Donald Trump is expected to push Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi for support in the war on Iran when she visits the White House on Thursday, placing her in an awkward position as the conflict remains deeply unpopular at home.

Trump has lashed out at allies for their lukewarm backing of the US-Israeli campaign and is pushing for more ships to clear mines and escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. Germany, Italy and Spain have already ruled out joining any Gulf mission.

Ms Takaichi told Japan’s parliament on Monday that Tokyo had received no official request from Washington but was reviewing what was possible within the limits of its pacifist constitution. Japan also expects Mr Trump to ask it to produce or co-develop missiles to replace US munitions depleted by the wars in Iran and Ukraine, according to three Japanese government sources.

“She was hoping to be the last voice in the room that could influence the president’s approach to his trip to China,” said Chris Johnstone of the Asia Group consultancy. “Instead, she’s going to be basically the first ally in the room responding to Trump’s request for assistance in the Middle East.”

Oil prices have climbed to $112 a barrel in early Asian trading today as Iran struck energy infrastructure across the Gulf in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its South Pars gas field.

Brent crude rose 4.27 per cent to $112, while US West Texas Intermediate climbed 2.73 per cent to $98.95.

Qatar confirmed Iranian missiles caused “extensive damage” around the Ras Laffan industrial complex, the world’s largest liquefied natural gas facility. The UAE suspended operations at its Habshan gas facility after missile-related incidents, with debris from intercepted projectiles also affecting the Bab oil field. Saudi Arabia said air defences had destroyed 19 drones in the Eastern Province and four missiles launched toward Riyadh.

A vessel east of the Strait of Hormuz also caught fire after being struck by an unknown projectile, the UK’s maritime security agency said.

The US is reportedly considering deploying additional military assets to the region to secure shipping through the strait.

The Pentagon has asked the White House to approve a more than $200 billion funding request to Congress for the war in Iran, according to a new report.

It’s been nearly three weeks since the U.S, along with Israel, began launching strikes against Iran to “dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus,” according to the U.S. military.

President Donald Trump has contentiously claimed Iran posed an “imminent” threat to Americans due to its “nuclear ambitions” and development of long-range missiles. But this fight is not free, and the cost of it will come out of the American taxpayers’ pockets.

Pentagon officials are seeking a more than $200 billion bump in defense spending to keep up with its military campaign against Iran, The Washington Post reported Wednesday, citing a senior Trump administration official.

Iran has struck Qatar’s Ras Laffan energy complex for a second time, with Qatar’s energy company confirming that gas facilities at the site were hit by rockets early this morning, causing fires and more significant damage. No injuries were reported, the state media reported.

The strike came before Donald Trump issued his warning today against further attacks on the facility.

The Republican-led US Senate voted down a Democrat effort to curb President Donald Trump’s power over the Iran war again on Wednesday local time.

The Senate voted mostly along party lines against advancing a War Powers Resolution that would have prohibited Trump from launching further attacks against Iran without congressional approval.

This is the second time the Senate defeated a War Powers Resolution on the matter.

President Donald Trump has said Israel carried out the attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field without US or Qatari involvement.

“The United States knew nothing about this particular attack, and the country of Qatar was in no way, shape, or form, involved with it, nor did it have any idea that it was going to happen,” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Information has announced that the Grand Mosque, which is the largest mosque in Kuwait’s capital, will be closed on Eid al-Fitr due to the “current circumstances” in the region, the Associated Press reported.

The holiday will take place between Thursday and Friday and mark the end of Ramadan. Ramadan is considered the most sacred time of year for the Muslim community, but this year it has been plagued by the Iran war.

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has urged residents to avoid panic buying petrol and diesel, saying a surge in demand had led to localised shortages in rural areas despite overall supply remaining stable.

“Our fuel supply is currently secure. However, I want us to be over-prepared,” Mr Albanese told reporters on today. “My message to Australians is please do not take more fuel than you need. That is how you can help, that’s the Australian way.”

Fuel demand has doubled in some regions in recent days, Mr Albanese said, even as shipments continue to arrive as scheduled. The government has appointed Anthea Harris, former boss of the Australian Energy Regulator, as national fuel supply taskforce coordinator.

Australia’s competition regulator has also launched an investigation into alleged anti-competitive conduct by major fuel suppliers including Ampol, BP’s Australian unit, Mobil Oil Australia and Viva Energy’s Shell-branded stations.

The Reserve Bank of Australia warned in its latest Financial Stability Review that the Iran war was a “material risk” to the Australian economy.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has said Iran will not “hold us hostage with energy blackmail”.

“President Trump will not allow this regime, this bloodlusting regime, to hold us hostage with energy blackmail, missile blackmail or nuclear blackmail”, Miller told Fox News Wednesday night local time.

Gas prices have been surging as Iran has effectively closed off the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway in the Middle East that carries about a fifth of the world’s oil.

Trump called on his allies to send ships to escort tankers through the key waterway, but he was rebuffed.