US-Israel-Iran war highlights: Energy crisis, military warnings and global disruptions intensify

The United States will blockade Iranian ports for ldquoas long as it takesrdquo US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said threatening renewed strikes if Tehran does not make a deal ldquoIf Iran chooses poorly then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure power and energyrdquo Hegseth saidHouthi Leader Blames US in Iran NegotiationsAbdul Malik alHouthi leader of the Iranbacked Houthi movement in Yemen has accused the United States of making ldquoimpossible demandsrdquo during ongoing negotiations with Iran In a televised address on Thursday he claimed that the current twoweek ceasefire reflects the failure of both the US and Israel to achieve their strategic objectives in the conflictAlHouthi stated that successful negotiations could lead either to prolonged stability or a complete end to hostilities However he criticised Washingtonrsquos approach as being driven by ldquoarrogance and priderdquo suggesting that the US has entered talks on its own rigid termsLufthansa to Shut Down CityLine Amid Rising CostsGerman airline Lufthansa has announced the early shutdown of its regional feeder airline CityLine citing escalating fuel costs and ongoing labour disputes The closure initially planned for next year will now take effect immediately with operations set to cease on SaturdayCityLine which operated 27 older and less fuelefficient aircraft played a key role in transporting passengers to Lufthansarsquos major hubs in Frankfurt and Munich The airline attributed the sharp rise in fuel prices to the Iran conflict and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz a critical global oil transit routeSailors Stranded as Hormuz Blockade Disrupts ShippingThe blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues to impact global shipping with German logistics giant HapagLloyd reporting that around 150 sailors remain stranded aboard six vessels in the regionCompany spokesperson Nils Haupt described the situation as challenging noting that crews have been operating in a war zone for over five weeks While some personnel rotations have taken place prolonged isolation has taken a toll on moraleHapagLloyd maintains daily communication with ship captains and crew members Satellite technology has enabled sailors to stay in touch with their families providing some relief amid the ongoing crisisPentagon Pressures Iran to Accept DealUS Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has urged Iran to return to the negotiating table warning that Washington is prepared to act decisively if diplomacy failsSpeaking at the Pentagon Hegseth reiterated that the United States will not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons He emphasised a preference for a diplomatic resolution led by the US negotiating team but warned that a military option remains on the tableldquoI pray you choose a dealhellip for the betterment of your people and the worldrdquo he said addressing Iranrsquos leadership directlyIsrael Warns Iran of Severe ConsequencesIsraeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning to Iran framing its choices as a decision between progress and destruction He cautioned that failure to deescalate could result in more severe military strikes than those already carried outKatz linked Israelrsquos ongoing operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon to a broader confrontation with Iran signalling an escalation in regional tensionsEurope Faces Jet Fuel ShortageThe head of the International Energy Agency IEA Fatih Birol has warned that Europe may have only six weeks of jet fuel remaining if current supply disruptions persistIn an interview Birol described the situation as potentially the most severe energy crisis in history driven by the blockage of oil and gas supplies through the Strait of Hormuz He cautioned that prolonged disruption could trigger widespread flight cancellations and significantly impact global economic growthRising fuel gas and electricity prices are expected to add inflationary pressure worldwide further compounding the crisisUS Expands Maritime Blockade Against IranUS Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine announced that American forces will actively pursue any vessel linked to Iran regardless of location The move is part of an expanded blockade targeting Iranian ports and maritime activitiesCaine warned that ships attempting to bypass the blockade risk being boarded by force The enforcement measures apply to all vessels including those suspected of transporting Iranian oil through covert meansThe blockade extends beyond Iranian territorial waters into international zones with US forces globally instructed to intercept vessels providing material support to IranGlobal Tensions MountAs diplomatic efforts continue amid escalating military and economic pressures the USndashIsraelndashIran conflict is increasingly affecting global trade energy supplies and geopolitical stability The coming weeks are likely to prove critical in determining whether negotiations can prevent further escalation or if the crisis deepens into a broader international confrontationWith inputs from ANI and AFP