31.03.2026 15:05
U.S. President Donald Trump said, "I have a suggestion for countries like the United Kingdom that cannot obtain jet fuel due to the Strait of Hormuz and refuse to participate in operations against Iran. First, buy from the U.S.; we have plenty. Second, show a little courage, go to the strait and take it. The U.S. will no longer help you; you haven't helped us either. Iran has been largely destroyed. Go and take your oil yourself."
While the war between the US-Israel and Iran continues with all its violence on its 32nd day, mutual statements and moves are causing the tension in the region to rise significantly.
THREAT TO COUNTRIES NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE WAR
US President Donald Trump addressed the Hormuz crisis through a post on Truth. Trump stated, “All countries that cannot obtain jet fuel due to the Strait of Hormuz, such as the United Kingdom, which refuses to get involved in leaving Iran leaderless. I have a suggestion for you, First, buy from the US, we have plenty. Second, muster some courage, go to the Strait and get it!
"GO GET YOUR OWN OIL"
You will have to learn to fight on your own. The US will no longer help you, just as you did not help us. Iran has essentially been devastated. The hard part is over. Go get your own oil!” he expressed.
ANOTHER POST TARGETING FRANCE
After this message, Trump shared a second statement. Targeting France, Trump said that France did not allow military cargo planes heading to Israel to fly over French territory. "France did not help against the person known as the 'Iran Butcher,' who was successfully neutralized. The US will not forget this!" he said.
WATER TREATMENT PLANT HIT IN IRAN
The Iranian Ministry of Health announced that a seawater desalination plant on Qeshm Island was put out of service due to attacks and that repairs would not be possible in the short term. An Israeli military spokesperson stated, "The Israeli army is ready to continue operations in the coming weeks."
NO PERMISSION FOR US PLANES FROM ITALY
Reuters reported that Italy did not allow US planes to use its base in Sicily for operations in the Middle East. Accordingly, it was stated that "some US bombers" were planned to land at Sigonella Air Base in eastern Sicily before heading to the Middle East, but these permissions were not granted following instructions from Rome. The Italian Ministry of Defense did not make a statement on the matter.
US REQUESTED PATRIOT FROM POLAND, POLAND REFUSED
Poland's Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that the US wanted to deploy a Patriot missile battery located in Poland to the Middle East, but Poland rejected this. Kosiniak-Kamysz said that the Patriots would continue to protect Polish airspace and NATO's eastern flank and that there would be no transfer anywhere.
RUSSIA: US DOES NOT WANT NORMALIZATION
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated, “The Middle East crisis could turn into a broader conflict.” Lavrov said that the conflicts and regime changes were made “to gain more control over oil and natural gas resources” and expressed that “the US and Israel do not want normalization between Iran and its neighbors.”
ISRAEL WILL DESTROY VILLAGES NEAR THE BORDER IN LEBANON
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Israel would create a buffer zone in southern Lebanon and would control the entire area up to the Litani River. Katz stated that nearly 600,000 residents evacuated from southern Lebanon would not be able to return “until the safety of those living in northern Israel is guaranteed.” The Israeli minister also announced that Israel would destroy the villages near the border in Lebanon.
IS TRUMP LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT?
It has been suggested that US President Donald Trump, who is looking for a way out of the war, is ready to postpone military operations against Iran and to open the Strait, even if the Strait of Hormuz is closed. According to claims based on government officials cited by the Wall Street Journal, Trump conveyed his desire to withdraw even if the Strait remains closed.
It has been suggested that Trump, who assessed that the conflict would exceed the 4 to 6-week timeline he set, has the primary goal of neutralizing the Iranian navy and missile stockpiles, after which diplomatic pressure would be applied to reduce military activities. National Security Advisor Marco Rubio and White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt argued that military operations would be completed within weeks, while the responsibility for reopening the Strait to trade could be left to European and Gulf allies or resolved with a multinational force. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has shaken the global economy, causing US crude oil prices to rise above $100 for the first time since 2022, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed that the current situation is manageable for now.
FIRE CONTINUES IN THE GULF
Iran's retaliatory attacks continue in the Gulf. It has been reported that injuries and tanker fires occurred in Dubai and Kuwait during Iran's large-scale missile attacks. The Iranian parliament decided to impose a toll on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes, and to completely ban US and Israeli ships. On other fronts of the war, four Israeli soldiers and two UN peacekeepers were killed in Lebanon.
While new explosions and power outages occurred in Tehran, the Israeli army announced that it responded to these attacks with sirens echoing in Jerusalem. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that they have achieved more than half of their military objectives by targeting Iran's industrial facilities and arms industry.
US-ISRAEL'S ATTACKS ON IRAN
Israel and the US launched a military attack on Iran on February 28 while negotiations were ongoing between Tehran and Washington. Iran retaliated with attacks on targets it identified in several regional countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain, where US bases are located, in addition to Israel. In the US-Israel attacks, Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, along with many high-ranking officials, was killed.