US mulls lifting sanctions on Iranian oil at sea despite war on Tehran
Washington ( Web News )
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says Washington might lift sanctions on Iranian oil that is already being shipped, as energy prices soar due to the war in the Middle East, reports AFP.
Bessent’s comments to Fox Business on Thursday came as oil and gas prices made a renewed surge after Iran hit the world’s biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Qatar and threatened to destroy the region’s energy infrastructure.
He added that the US government could also release more oil from its strategic reserves to help contain costs.
US F-35 damaged by suspected Iranian fire makes emergency landing: sources
A US F-35 fighter jet has made an emergency landing at a US air base in the Middle East after it was struck by what is believed to be Iranian fire, CNN reports citing two sources familiar with the matter.
Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command, has said the fifth-generation stealth jet was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it was forced to make an emergency landing.
“The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition,” Hawkins added. “This incident is under investigation.”
The incident would be the first time Iran has hit a US aircraft in the war started in late February. Both the US and Israel are flying F-35s in the conflict, with the aircraft costing upwards of $100 million.
Iran demands ‘clarity’ from Germany on US airbase Ramstein: envoy
Iran has asked Berlin to clarify the role of the Ramstein airbase in the US-Israeli war on Iran, Tehran’s ambassador to Germany Majid Nili has told AFP.
“We have asked them to clarify or explain regarding the role of Ramstein,” Nili said, charging that “the role of Ramstein is not officially clear for us”.
“Till now, we don’t have any answer.”
Iran believes Washington’s use of the airbase in western Germany may violate UN resolution 3314. The resolution says that territory placed at the disposal of another state cannot be used by that state for perpetrating an “act of aggression” against a third state.
“We don’t know yet whether Ramstein is in that line or not,” he said.
Iranian authorities enforce record 20-day internet blackout: NetBlocks
Iranian authorities have imposed a total internet blackout across the country since the start of the war, which has entered its 20th day, says monitoring group NetBlocks.
“The incident is now the longest recorded shutdown in Iran’s history, surpassing the blackout imposed during protests in January,” it says, in reference to deadly nationwide demonstrations earlier this year.