US-Iran war updates: Trump tells Tehran to ‘open the f..king Strait’, Iran responds

Oil and diesel prices jumped on Monday as US President Donald Trump threatened to destroy Iranian power plants and bridges in an expletive-laden social media post.

On Monday morning, Brent Crude futures for May rose 2.1 per cent to $US114.37 a barrel, with US WTI oil futures at $US111.12 a barrel.

London Gas Oil futures - as the benchmark for global diesel - surged 5.7 per cent to $US1567 a metric tonne at their highest level since the war began.

The paper diesel price has now jumped 108 per cent since closing at $US752 per dry metric tonne before the war began on February 26.

The price surge comes after US President Trump said the conflict could last another two to three more weeks from April 1, unless Iran meets his peace conditions including an agreement to reopen energy shipping passage the Strait of Hormuz.

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Hours after Donald Trump told Iran to “open the F..kin’ Strait”, the IRGC Navy has slapped down the US President’s demand, saying the Strait of Hormuz will never be the same for the US or Israel.

“The Strait of Hormuz will never return to its former state, especially for America and Israel,” a statement said.

“The Navy of the IRGC is in the process of completing the operational preparations for the #Announced_Plan of Iran’s officials for the new order in the Persian Gulf.”

It is understood that the IRGC Navy is working on plans to charge countries to pass through the key waterway.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has reiterated his calls for Australians not to panic buy, saying demand at service stations was up 30 per cent over the Easter long weekend.

Speaking on Channel 7’s Sunrise on Monday, Mr Bowen said while shipments were still coming in, the domestic use had risen over the holidays and urged people to only take fuel as they need it “no more, no less”.

“We’ve got the imports coming in just as normal. But we have seen those big spikes in demand,” he said.

“Easter demand was up 30 per cent on Easter before, the fuel companies tell me.

“That means those trucks are going to be working extra overtime to get the fuel around Australia. We can all help by just getting as much fuel as we need.

“Trying to get ahead and panic-buy really does make this problem much, much worse, not better, for everyone.”

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has insisted his energy policy must be driven by “economics and engineering, not ideology” in response to questions about drilling in the Great Australian Bight.

Nationals leader Matt Canavan and the resources sector have called for more local drilling as question marks hang over Australia’s ability to replenish its fuel needs despite being a major energy exporter.

“I hear people say drill for more oil,” Mr Bowen told Sunrise on Monday.

“Matt Canavan said we should drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight. When he was resources administrator he had a go at that, and the companies gave back their licenses because it’s very deep and geologically challenging, and therefore very expensive there.

“These things have got to be determined by economics and engineering and not by ideology. “Ultimately, if the economics for these things work, that’s great.

“In the short term… I’m focused on getting fuel to service stations.”

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US President Donald Trump and members of the US Military will share new details about the war with Iran and the daring rescue of a stranded US airman tomorrow.

“I will be having a News Conference, with the Military, at the Oval Office, on Monday, at 1:00 P.M. God Bless our great MILITARY WARRIORS!,” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, has condemned Donald Trump’s threats, saying he was being misled by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Your reckless moves are dragging the United States into a living HELL for every single family, and our whole region is going to burn because you insist on following Netanyahu’s commands,” he posted on X.

Mr Trump has demanded Iran reopen the Strait, however, Tehran claims the Strait is open for those who are not acting against Iran.

Fars News, a state-run outlet in Iran, says 15 ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours.

The United States pulled off a daring rescue of two aviators whose fighter jet was shot down by Iran, plucking the pilot from behind enemy lines before setting off a complicated extraction of the second airman who hid deep in the mountains as Tehran called for Iranians to help capture him.

The CIA looked to throw off Iran’s government before the crew member was found, launching a deception campaign to spread word inside the Islamic Republic that it had already located him.

Even as President Donald Trump and other US officials described an almost cinematic mission, rescuers faced major obstacles, including two Black Hawk helicopters coming under fire and problems with two transport planes that forced the US military to blow them up.

“This is the first time in military memory that two US Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory,” Mr Trump wrote early Sunday on his Truth Social platform. “WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND!”

In a pair of social media posts, Mr Trump said the operation over the weekend required the US to remain completely silent to avoid jeopardising the effort, even as the president and top members of his administration continuously monitored the airman’s location.

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US President Donald Trump has ratcheted up pressure on Iran, threatening in an expletive-laden Easter Sunday social media post to target Iran’s power plants and bridges on Tuesday if the strategic Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.

Mr Trump said his deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on critical infrastructure is Tuesday evening, according to an interview he gave to the Wall Street Journal on Sunday.

“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran,” he said on his Truth Social platform.

“There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F*ckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP”

Later on Sunday, the president in a follow-up post, gave a more precise deadline: “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!”

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