(March 7): President Donald Trump demanded Iran capitulate in the war’s seventh day, suggesting a longer timeframe for the conflict even amid energy-market tumult and worries about whether the US has the military stockpiles to carry on the fight indefinitely.
Trump called for “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” and noted a plan for the US and its allies to select a “GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s).” Hours later, he hosted defence industry executives at the White House to underscore the need to step up production of critical weapons systems.
“They have agreed to quadruple Production of the ‘Exquisite Class’ Weaponry in that we want to reach, as rapidly as possible, the highest levels of quantity,” Trump posted on social media after the meeting, referring to the most expensive US hardware. He repeated that the US has “a virtually unlimited supply” of medium- and upper-medium grade munitions.
The White House also pushed back on worries around surging energy costs as US prices at the pump rose Friday to the highest since September 2024. US crude futures ended the week above US$90 ($114.72) a barrel — more than US$20 above last Friday — and notched the biggest weekly percentage gain on record in data going back to the 1980s. Brent crude settled above US$92 a barrel.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt cited “tangible actions” to ease what she said was a predicted spike, including Trump’s pledge to provide insurance to cargo vessels in the region and even US Navy escorts if needed.
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told Bloomberg Television the administration has “many, many” tools to address the surge in oil prices, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested in a Fox Business interview that the US could further ease sanctions on Russian oil to increase supply.
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Oil traders are warning US$100 could be on the horizon sooner rather than later as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains at a near-total halt and energy exporters are scrambling for routes out of the region. Citigroup Inc estimated the crude oil market is losing about seven million to 11 million barrels a day of supply due to the disruption through Hormuz, a chokepoint for a fifth of global oil flows.
Iran on Friday warned that it would strike US- and Israel-linked ships in the strait. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is diverting millions of barrels of crude to a port on its Red Sea coast, helping the world’s top exporter maintain supplies.
There was no letup in the conflict overnight and into Saturday morning. Israel launched another wave of strikes on Tehran as the Islamic Republic targeted more missiles at Israel.
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With no clear timeline for the end of military operations, countries in Europe and Asia also have been moving to bolster the region’s defences.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he ordered his forces — who have gained expertise during the four-year-old Russian invasion — to help “guarantee the required security” in response to a US request to aid in protecting the Middle East against Iran’s Shahed drones.
Nato said it was boosting its missile defence posture following the downing on Wednesday of an Iranian missile heading toward Turkish airspace.
Italy intends to send air-defence systems and counter-drone capabilities to the Gulf, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Thursday. South Korea said it’s in talks with the US about the possible redeployment of weapons, including Patriot air-defence systems. France has authorised US military support aircraft not involved in operations in Iran to use Istres Air Base, AFP reported.
The US-Israeli war has left at least 1,332 people dead in Iran so far, and dozens of others have been killed elsewhere in the region in retaliatory strikes. Six US troops have been reported killed. In all, around a dozen countries have been embroiled in the conflict.
Saudi Arabia stepped up direct engagement with Tehran in a bid to de-escalate tensions, according to several European officials. Separately, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned the US and Israel against waging an “endless war” that could lead to the disintegration of Iran, a new migration crisis in Europe and lasting economic damage.
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Posting before Trump’s comments demanding surrender, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said some countries have initiated efforts for mediation. While the Islamic Republic is “committed to lasting peace”, it will continue to defend itself, he said. Earlier this week, Iran denied a report that its Ministry of Intelligence reached out to the US to negotiate a resolution.
Trump vowed on Thursday to “totally demolish” Iranian forces, telling NBC he wanted to “clean out” Iran’s leadership structure and had names in mind to take over. That suggested the US sees regime change as the ultimate goal, after days of conflicting explanations for why it launched the war and how the administration saw it playing out.
Later at the White House, Trump told reporters the US was doing very well in Iran, sinking ships at will and weakening Iran’s military capabilities.
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said strikes have neutralised more than 60% of Iran’s ballistic missile launchers. Iran’s navy has also suffered devastating losses.
Iran’s drone and missile attacks have also stressed Israeli and Gulf air defences across the region. Iran destroyed a key US$300 million radar system in Jordan crucial to US missile defence in the early days of the conflict, according to a US official.
Iran is poised to elect a successor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed on Feb 28, the first day of the war. Mojtaba Khamenei, the slain leader’s second-oldest son, is in the running. Trump said he was a “lightweight” who wouldn’t change the regime’s policies and insisted on being personally involved in picking the country’s next leader.
Airlines remain hamstrung by the conflict, with the number of cancelled flights to Middle East hubs surpassing 27,000 since fighting began. Thousands of passengers remained stranded in the Gulf region, although on Friday Emirates said it’s aiming for a return to full network operations in coming days.
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