The International Energy Agency (IEA) warned on Wednesday that the world is depleting its oil reserves at a "record pace" during the presentation of its monthly report in Paris. In a context of war in the Middle East that is affecting the supply from the Gulf, global reserves decreased by 117 million barrels in April. This data adds to the drop of 129 million barrels already recorded in March.
On the other hand, Donald Trump stated before his trip to China that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons is above any internal economic consideration, amid increasing concerns about inflation and the cost of living in the United States.
The president was asked to what extent the financial situation influenced his efforts to negotiate the end of the war with Iran. The president responded firmly: "Not at all." "The only issue that matters, when I talk about Iran, is that they cannot have a nuclear weapon," he stated. "I don't think about the financial situation of Americans. I don't think about anyone. I think about one thing: we cannot allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. That's all. It's the only thing that motivates me," he said.
IEA warns that the world is depleting its oil reserves at a record pace
The world is depleting its oil reserves at a "record pace," in a context of war in the Middle East that is affecting the supply from the Gulf, warned the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Wednesday.
Global reserves decreased by 117 million barrels in April, as indicated by the agency based in Paris in its monthly report. This data adds to the drop of 129 million barrels already recorded in March. "The rapid contraction of reserves, amid these continued disruptions, could foreshadow future increases in crude oil prices," added the IEA, which defends the interests of consumer countries, as reported by Afp.
Iran dismisses Kuwait's accusations of alleged "hostile" activities
Iran dismissed as completely unfounded Kuwait's accusations against four Iranian citizens of infiltrating the Arab country to carry out "hostile" activities and stated that the Iranian agents entered Kuwaiti territorial waters by accident.
"Iran considers absolutely unfounded and rejects the accusations made in the statements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior of Kuwait, based on Iran's alleged planning to carry out hostile actions against Kuwait," stated the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a late Tuesday statement.
Kuwait accused the Iranian Revolutionary Guard of sending a team to its territory to attack the country and announced the detention of four of its members after a shootout in which an Arab country's military personnel was injured.
According to the Iranian ministry, the four Iranian agents were carrying out a routine maritime patrol mission and, due to interference in the navigation system, entered Kuwaiti territorial waters. Iran's foreign ministry strongly condemned "Kuwait's inappropriate action of exploiting the case for political and propaganda purposes," as reported by Efe.
However, Kuwait's Ministry of Interior stated that the detainees "confessed their connection to the Revolutionary Guard" and that they had been tasked with infiltrating Bubiyan Island aboard a fishing boat chartered specifically to carry out hostile acts against Kuwait.
Iran executes another prisoner convicted of collaborating with Israel
Iranian authorities executed a prisoner on Wednesday convicted of allegedly collaborating with Israel's intelligence services, Mossad, amid a wave of hangings in the Islamic Republic. "Ehsan Afrasht was hanged for spying in favor of the Zionist regime, for staying in contact and collaborating with Mossad intelligence service agents," reported the Mizan Judicial Power agency, as cited by Efe.
According to the official account, Afrasht received training from Mossad, spied for the Israeli service posing as a taxi driver, and later worked for a company affiliated with the Iranian Army to share information with Tel Aviv.
Iran has accelerated executions since the start of the war with Israel and the United States on February 28, especially of inmates convicted for their alleged ties to Israel or protesters who participated in the January demonstrations.
Donald Trump's statements come in a context of increasing political and economic pressure in his country. Critics believe that the administration should balance its geopolitical objectives with the economic impact that the conflict is having on citizens, especially given the rising energy prices and inflation.
Asked to elaborate on the president's comments, White House communications director Steven Cheung stated that Trump's "utmost responsibility" is the safety of Americans. "Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and if action had not been taken, they would have one, which threatens all Americans," he asserted. Reuters reports.
"We cannot allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. That's the only thing that motivates me"
Donald Trump stated before his trip to China that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons is above any internal economic consideration, amid tensions arising from the conflict with Tehran and increasing concerns about inflation and the cost of living in the United States.
The president was asked to what extent the financial situation influenced his efforts to negotiate the end of the war with Iran. The president responded firmly: "Not at all." "The only issue that matters, when I talk about Iran, is that they cannot have a nuclear weapon," he stated. "I don't think about the financial situation of Americans. I don't think about anyone. I think about one thing: we cannot allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. That's all. It's the only thing that motivates me," as reported by Reuters.