War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

Brent benchmark oil prices have risen by $3 after China suspended oil products exports, potentially tightening fuel markets already coping with supply shortages globally, while investors continue to assess diplomatic efforts to end the US-Israeli war on Iran, Reuters reports.

The new front-month December Brent crude futures contract has traded at $101.06 per barrel at 1452 GMT (7:52pm PKT), up three per cent, or $3.02, from Wednesday’s close.

The November contract expired on Wednesday, settling at $103.50 per barrel, marking a monthly gain of around 14pc in September for the front-month contract.

Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate crude futures are up $1.67, or 1.9pc, at $92.09 a barrel, having traded close to $93 earlier in the session.

Answering a question regarding contact between Pakistan and the US on mediating the Iran war, Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan says both sides “have remained in touch in the recent weeks. That is all I can say.”

Asked about Pakistan’s views on US sanctions on Iran, Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan replied that as a responsible member of the international community, the country will adhere to “all applicable sanctions regimes in accordance with international and domestic laws”.

“Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to a rule-based international system rooted in multilateralism and international law, and we remain in constant and constructive communication with all relevant stakeholders,” he tells a press briefing.

Khan adds that while Islamabad highly values its strategic partnership with Washington and remains fully committed to further strengthening long-standing ties, it stresses its strict adherence to international norms and established frameworks.

“Pakistan, being a mediator in communication between Iran and the United States, believes that it is important to continue urging both sides to exercise restraint, resolve outstanding issues through dialogue and diplomacy, and honour their respective commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,” he states.

“Pakistan believes that this is the only viable pathway to resolving the conflict amicably and peacefully, in the larger interest of global peace and security.”

Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan says that during the past fortnight, envoys from Turkiye and the UK called on Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and discussed the situation in the Middle East.

In a press briefing, Khan says Dar met with Turkish Ambassador Irfan Neziroglu on September 18.

“The two sides discussed the evolving regional situation as well as progress under various bilateral institutional mechanisms aimed at advancing cooperation across a range of areas,” the spokesperson said. 

Khan adds that British High Commissioner Jane Marriott also called on Dar, and that “regional and international developments of mutual interest were also discussed”.

In a press conference, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the Makkah Defence Alliance, as well as the protection of Saudi Arabia and the city of Makkah itself.

“There needs to be complete clarity on one thing: Pakistan’s commitment to the Makkah Alliance, Pakistan’s commitment to the security and sanctity of Haramain Sharifain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is absolute. There should be no doubt on it,” he tells reporters, stating that the operationalisation of the alliance is a matter of “operational necessity and confidentiality”.

The US State Department has waived human rights conditions for more than $300 million of military aid to Egypt in light of Cairo’s “helpful role” since the launch of the US war with Iran, according to a letter to US lawmakers obtained by Reuters.

A portion of that aid is subject to human rights and democracy-related conditions which can be waived on national-security grounds. The withholding of funds, including under former US president Joe Biden, has caused friction between Cairo and Washington in the past.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio “has made a determination to waive the certification requirement with respect to $320m in FY 2025 Foreign Military Financing for Egypt”, says a letter addressed to various congressional committees, dated September 21.

That portion of military aid was deemed “necessary for counterterrorism, border security, or nonproliferation programs or is otherwise important to the national security interest of the United States”, according to an accompanying memo justifying the decision.

“Exercising this waiver authority is essential for the US-Egypt relationship and US national security priorities, particularly in light of Egypt’s helpful role following Operation Epic Fury,” the memo reads, dated September 4 and bearing Rubio’s signature.

Iran’s Fars News Agency reports that following British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s claims that Iran was involved in attempted sabotage at the RAF Fairford airbase, the British ambassador to Iran has been summoned by the foreign ministry in Tehran.

“The ambassador of that country in Tehran was summoned to the foreign ministry and Iran’s strong protest regarding this destructive approach of the UK government was conveyed to him,” Fars reports.

Iranian deputy parliament speaker Ali Nikzad says the United States will never be able to completely stop Iran’s oil exports, according to state news agency IRNA.

Speaking at a ceremony in Iran’s Mazandaran Province, Nikzad says the US and its allies failed in their efforts to gain control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait to pressure Iran and gain greater influence over global oil supplies.

Nikzad further says that the US cannot stop Iran’s oil exports, adding that Iran will continue to export its oil despite US pressure and sanctions, according to IRNA.

President Donald Trump has rejected reports of low US munition stockpiles in an interview with Time magazine, saying that Washington has “a lot of weapons”, and that a report from the Department of War claiming shortages was “mostly fake news”.

“You know, we’ve been stocking up for the last six months,” he says, adding that the country is in “great shape” despite his predecessor Joe Biden sending munitions to Ukraine.

“We’re also now stocking up big and making [munitions] — and we’re keeping it. You know, we’ll get it out to others, you know, our allies,” Trump adds.

Asked about what was true in the Pentagon report, Trump replies that “some forms of ammunition are a little bit lower than others”, and that the US has middle and upper middle grade munitions.

“So now we have Raytheon. We have all of them,” he adds, referring to defence contractors manufacturing ammunition. “They’re going. They’re building plants all over the country, and they’re doing a lot. They’re working 24/7, and we’re stocking up at levels we’ve never done before.”

In response to a question about his claims that the US will “annihilate” Iran, US President Donald Trump has replied that it is possible.

Trump made the remarks about destroying the country during his recent address to the UN General Assembly.

“Yeah, I would do that. It’s possible,” he tells Time magazine in an interview, calling himself the “president of peace” in response to another question.

Asked how a “president of peace” could justify annihilating Iran, Trump says, “Because by annihilating Iran, we’ve created peace in the world. With Iran, I don’t think you could ever have peace.”

He also says that bombing the country is “possible” after the midterms, without providing specific details.

“I can’t tell you that because look, you know, you’re asking, where are you going to bomb?” Trump adds.

President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran “has never avoided” dialogue with the United States, despite attacked three times during negotiations with Tehran, Al Jazeera reports.

“We have never avoided dialogue and will not do so, although the United States targeted our country three times,” he tells a meeting of entrepreneurs, according to the Tasnim News Agency.

“There is good coordination and synergy among the heads of state and everyone is seeking to resolve problems and shortcomings.”

Pezeshkian adds that Iran is seeking to expand import-export avenues via land with Pakistan, Iraq, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, despite “restrictions at sea”.

In an interview with Time magazine, US President Donald Trump has said that Iran’s offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is “simply not enough”, Al Jazeera reports.

“The Iranians made an offer regarding the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. I have seen some aspects of it, but not all of it, and it is simply not enough,” Trump says in the interview, conducted several days ago but published today.

Asked why he rejected the proposal, the US president says, “Because things that I wouldn’t have approved a year ago I wouldn’t have today.”

When questioned if he considered Tehran’s threat of closing the Hormuz strait, he replies, “There was always a threat they had, and it worked for a little while. But we basically closed it on them. You know, they said we’re going to close. I said, ‘Well, you close it, you’re going to have big trouble.’ We took it over.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has discussed the status of his country’s peace talks with the US in a telephone call with his Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi, state news agency IRNA reports.

During the call, Araghchi has outlined the latest status of diplomatic initiatives and the process with Washington, explaining Tehran’s views on the matter.

According to IRNA, Motegi outlined Japan’s views and positions on regional and international developments and matters of mutual interest.

Oil prices are up by more than two per cent as uncertainty over US-Iran negotiations clouds prospects for a sustained recovery in Middle East energy supplies, Anadolu reports.

International benchmark Brent crude futures have gained 2.4pc to $100.35 per barrel, as of 0830 GMT (1:30pm PKT), reversing earlier losses, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate is up 2.45pc to $92.62.

Flights to and from Tehran’s main international airport have fallen by nearly half, 42 per cent following a US ban on Iranian airlines, but some popular routes remain operational, AFP reports citing tracking data.

On average, 53 international flights have operated to and from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport since September 23, when the US ban took effect, compared with a daily average of 91 flights before the ban, according to tracking platform FlightRadar24.

US Central Command (Centcom) says that as part of Washington’s blockade of Iranian ports, 125 commercial vessels have been redirected.

The Foreign Office spokesperson, Sajjad Haider Khan, has said that Pakistan is a responsible member of the international community and shall continue to adhere to all applicable sanctions regimes.

The spokesperson was responding to a query about the US announcing sanctions against 13 individuals and entities, including one based in Pakistan, alleging they helped Iran procure weapons.

“Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to the rules-based system, rooted in multilateralism and international law,” he said during a weekly FO briefing.

He added that Pakistan, as a mediator, urges both sides — the United States and Iran — to exercise restraint.

The average price of diesel at the pump across the EU has hit a record of 2.24 euros per litre — equivalent to $9.60 per US gallon — compared with 1.59 euros before war erupted in the Middle East, AFP reports, citing EU Commission data.

Twelve EU member states recorded fresh all-time highs, including Belgium, Italy, Romania and Poland, according to an AFP analysis of data submitted weekly to Brussels by national authorities since 2005.

The data reflect prices at filling stations, either at the start of the week or at the end of the previous week, depending on the country.

Yemen’s Tur al-Bahah axis, which is affiliated with the Yemeni government forces, says it has staved off a major Houthi offensive, Al Jazeera reports.

“Our forces thwarted a large-scale Houthi attack on all fronts of the axis and eliminated all its attacking formations,” the axis’s media centre wrote on Facebook, without providing further details.

German motorists have begun paying less to fill their cars as fuel subsidies aimed at softening the impact of the Middle East war energy shock come into force, AFP reports.

Prices of petrol had dropped by around 14 cents on average, to 2.06 euros a litre (equivalent to $8.85 per US gallon), and diesel prices by 15 cents, to 2.20 euros a litre, according to the automobile association ADAC.

Marcel Effenberg, a commuter in the northeastern state of Brandenburg, welcomed the subsidies, saying he had been paying 250 to 300 euros a month on fuel to cover costs of a lengthy daily commute.

“Even 20 or 30 euros [in savings] are 20 or 30 euros more that I have at the end of the month,” the 30-year-old told public broadcaster ZDF.

Israel troops have carried out a “sweep” operation with machine guns towards the town of Haddatha in southern Lebanon’s Bint Jbeil district, National News Agency reports.

Saudi Arabia’s state oil producer Saudi Aramco has raised official selling prices for liquefied petroleum gas by between 9 per cent and 11pc for October due to rising oil prices and higher demand on global markets, traders said, Reuters reports.

Algeria’s Sonatrach lifted LPG prices for October by between 20pc and 23pc, the traders said.

Saudi Aramco’s OSPs are used as a reference for contracts to supply LPG from the Middle East to the Asia-Pacific region while Sonatrach’s OSPs are used as benchmarks for the Mediterranean and Black Sea region, including Turkey.

Oil prices rose around 2 per cent after China suspended oil products exports, potentially tightening fuel markets already coping with supply shortages globally, while investors continued to assess renewed diplomatic efforts to end the US-Iran war, Reuters reports.

The new front-month December Brent crude futures contract traded at $100.09 per barrel at 0829 GMT, up 2.1pc, or $2.06, from Wednesday’s close. The November contract expired on Wednesday, settling at $103.50 per barrel, marking a monthly gain of around 14pc in September for the front-month contract.

US West Texas Intermediate crude was up $2.06, or 2.28pc, to $92.48 a barrel.

The Iranian mission to the United Nations has rejected claims surrounding the timing of the departure of the Iranian delegation headed by Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi from New York, IRNA reports.

In a statement, Iran’s mission to the UN said, “The Iranian delegation left New York on Monday evening, in accordance with the schedule that had also been communicated to the US.Department of State in advance on September 17.”

“Having achieved nothing, the State Department has resorted to propagating baseless and worthless news,” the mission added.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards welcomed the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq as a “historic victory” and called for American troops to leave the Middle East, AFP reports.

The Revolutionary Guards “congratulate the proud nation of Iraq, the united front of the Islamic Resistance, and the revolutionary fighters of the Islamic world on this historic victory,” the IRGC said in a statement carried by their official media.