Middle East tensions
- Updated
- Middle East at war
‘Iran can’t blackmail us,’ says Trump as ships attacked in Strait of Hormuz
Hours after Iran announced it would reimpose restrictions and close the critical waterway, two vessels attempting transit reported attacks.
Latest
- Exclusive
- Education
Think the petrol crisis is bad now? A million kids are about to return to school
Demand for petrol and diesel is about to soar as hundreds of thousands of daily school runs resume from Monday.
- Noel Towell, Jackson Graham, Bridie Smith and Alex Crowe
- Opinion
- Middle East at war
Trump’s oil gamble could blow up in his face
The world is flocking to the US for oil with the Strait of Hormuz closed. This could turn into a major problem for the president.
- Tim Wallace
Geelong explosion adds fuel to the fire of our national anxiety
Australians worry that an accident or an attack on a supply choke point like the Viva refinery could cause “cascading disruption to everyday life”.
- Michael Bachelard and Alexander Darling
ADF chief says Australia, if asked, could ‘absolutely deploy’ ship to Strait of Hormuz
Criticisms that the navy would not be able to defend vessels from Iranian attacks have been rebuffed by the nation’s highest-ranking officer.
- Nick Newling
There are dozens of fuel ships on their way. Here’s when they’ll arrive, and how they’ll get here
Australia has opened its chequebook to buy up as much fuel as possible, as Anthony Albanese flies to Singapore seeking deals to bridge a looming shortfall.
- Nick Toscano and Mike Foley
Albanese says fuel stocks looking good almost to June as he jets to Singapore
Fuel stocks are strong, the prime minister says, but a “fragile peace” in the Middle East has added urgency to his dash to secure supply from Asia’s oil superpower.
- Paul Sakkal
How Trump took the US to war with Iran
The US president’s hawkish thinking on Iran was a perfect fit with that of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman
- Analysis
- Middle East at war
Trump’s desperation shows as he demands Iran ‘open the f---in’ strait’
The US president’s latest outburst speaks to a commander-in-chief who is flailing and does not give the impression of someone with a calm, steady hand on the trigger.
- Michael Koziol
Inside the office where Trump’s words are turned into millions of dollars
As US B-2 bombers and F-35 fighter jets strafe Iran, another battle rages over the price of oil.
- Memphis Barker