Iran’s Newly Appointed Leader Issues Significant Oil Warning

In a recent analysis, it has been suggested that Khamenei did not make a public appearance due to being injured in the early stages of the conflict. This initial attack, which resulted in the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, and numerous other high-ranking officials within the radical regime, is believed to have been a significant blow.

He emphasized the strategic importance of potentially closing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passageway for oil shipments from the Middle East, now fraught with security concerns. Furthermore, he warned that Iran would persist in its hostilities toward neighboring Gulf Arab states.

The ayatollah pledged retribution for those lost in the conflict, notably mentioning a devastating strike on a school that claimed the lives of more than 165 individuals.

He asserted that Iran would seek “compensation” from the United States, seen as a primary adversary in this scenario.

Should the U.S. refuse to comply, Iran has threatened to seize or destroy American assets of equivalent value, maintaining a stance of aggressive retaliation.

US President Donald Trump meanwhile promised to “finish the job” even though he claimed Iran was “virtually destroyed”.

Australian officials told to leave

All but the most essential Australian officials have been directed to leave the United Arab Emirates and Israel due to worsening safety fears amid the war in the Middle East.

The UAE has been targeted repeatedly by Iranian drones and missiles since the US and Israel began bombing Iran.

Last night, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government had directed “non-essential” Australian officials to leave the country due to the “deteriorating security situation”.

“Essential Australian officials will remain in-country to support Australians who need it,” she said.

“We continue to advise Australians not to travel to Israel and the UAE. 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.”

Dependants of Australian diplomats had already been directed to leave the countries, as well as Lebanon, days before Iran was hit late last month in strikes many international law experts considered illegal.

Thursday’s major developments included Iran’s attacks against commercial ships around the Strait of Hormuz and Iraq’s port of Basra.

They were an escalation of Tehran’s defence strategy of pressuring the US by squeezing the oil-rich Gulf region to threaten global economic stability. 

The first week of the war cost the United States $US11.3 billion, according to the Pentagon.

The price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, spiked back over $US100 ($142) on Thursday as the war showed no signs of slowing.

The Israeli military also was striking Iran and moving troops to fight Iran’s militant ally Hezbollah in Lebanon, where more than 800,000 people have been displaced by the fighting. 

The UN refugee agency on Thursday said up to 3.2 million people in Iran had been displaced by the ongoing war.

– Reported with Associated Press