(March 31): US President Donald Trump lashed out at allies for not supporting the US war in Iran, arguing the US will not fight for their interests as they struggle to get jet fuel blocked from travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.
“You will have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us,” he wrote in a social media post.
Trump specifically targeted France, writing in a separate post that the country had been “very unhelpful” against Iran, a month after the US and Israel began a widespread bombing campaign that has damaged Iran’s military infrastructure and killed several key leaders.
“The USA will remember!” he wrote.
Trump told countries seeking the fuel to just “take it", arguing the US had already weakened Iran enough.
“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the US, we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the strait, and just take it,” he wrote in.
See also: First LNG ship to attempt Strait of Hormuz exit not carrying cargo — data
“The hard part is done,” he said. “Go get your own oil.”
While the Iran war has severely disrupted global energy supplies, the pressure on aviation is particularly intense. Total jet fuel demand amounted to 7.8 million barrels a day last year, including kerosene — the base product, which is also used for heating — according to figures from the International Energy Agency.
Now, the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz means a significant proportion of global shipments are stuck. At the same time, refineries in Asia have been forced to cut production due to missing crude from the Middle East. A looming shortfall means some combination of fewer flights to rein in demand and tapping oil stockpiles to bolster supply, oil traders and analysts have said.
See also: China tells private refiners to keep up fuel output at all costs — Bloomberg
The chief executive of United Airlines Holdings Inc has warned airfares may need to rise 20% in light of the surging prices.
Europe is the main importer of jet fuel — including kerosene — from the Persian Gulf, with supplies from that region accounting for about half of European Union and UK imports, according to Vortexa data compiled by Bloomberg News.
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