BlackMask Pod Cast: Moment Of Truth
Buffett: More dangerous if Iran has nuclear bomb than if not
Former Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett said on Tuesday that the global nuclear threat would be more dangerous if Iran were to obtain a nuclear weapon. Buffett said during a CNBC interview that nuclear weapons remain the key global risk, adding that while several countries already possess them, “it would be more difficult if Iran has the bomb than if they don’t.” He warned that “one way or another” nuclear weapons could be used over time, citing risks tied to the unstable actors gaining control. Buffett also referenced historical nuclear tensions, saying the world has faced “a lot of close calls,” and he warned that the risk increases if “someone who gets their hands on the switch is dying.”
NN: We need to put boots on the ground, suffer thousands af casualties and end the Iran crazies. If not now later millions will die.
EU warns of prolonged disruption of energy trade
European Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said in a letter to the European Union’s energy ministers that the EU’s security of supply “remains guaranteed” in light of the ongoing energy crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict. However, he warned that the union must be prepared for a “potentially prolonged disruption” of international energy trade. Jorgensen called on EU member states to coordinate their efforts, including limiting demand, particularly in the transport sector, as well as refrain from measures that could hinder the free flow of petroleum products or slow EU refinery output. He suggested delaying non-emergency refinery maintenance and increasing the use of biofuel where possible to ease pressure on the fossil fuel market.
NN: You need to pay attention here. The energy trap has been set. This will lead to a global depression. $200 oil and the rise of Islam….. Party!
Giant oil tanker off Dubai hit by Iranian strike after Trump’s latest threats
An Iranian drone hit a fully laden Kuwaiti oil tanker off Dubai early on Tuesday in one of the most significant attacks on a vessel in a month of war, pushing crude prices higher and heightening tension around the vital Strait of Hormuz. The Al-Salmi, a Kuwait-flagged very large crude carrier, was in the anchorage zone of Dubai’s port, just 31 nautical miles northwest of the emirate and in an area packed with ships waiting to exit the Persian Gulf. The strike — which happened just after midnight local time — damaged the hull and started a fire on board, state-run Kuwait Petroleum Corp. said in a statement. The Dubai Media Office said on X later on Tuesday that the fire had been extinguished and the incident had been contained, with no oil leakage. All 24 crew members were safe.
Iran Has Hit a Fully Laden Kuwaiti Oil Tanker near Dubai
The incident is yet another sign that a deepening Middle East conflict shows little sign of nearing a resolution, with mooted peace plans still at odds with reality on the ground and inconsistent rhetoric from Washington. US President Donald Trump earlier issued threats against Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and oil facilities, and has sent more troops to the region as the war extends into a fifth week.The tanker attack pushed oil prices higher, with West Texas Intermediate futures jumping almost 4% toward $107 a barrel, before paring gains. Iran has near-total control of the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway that’s the gateway to the Persian Gulf — and has effectively closed it to all but a trickle of vessels, paralyzing shipments of energy and other goods. Tehran has targeted ships and energy infrastructure on several occasions, but attacks on vessels in and around the strait appeared to have eased in recent days. The last reported incident was on March 21, when a bulk carrier reported a near miss. The latest attack will revive shipowners’ concerns, even as Iran takes steps toward restoring some traffic through the strait on its own terms. Dubai’s anchorage area is a frequent stopping point as vessels wait to secure war-risk insurance cover and finalize details before exiting via the narrow corridor. As of Tuesday morning, there were more than 400 ships of all types in and around the anchorage where Al-Salmi was struck.
U.S. Gas Prices Top $4 as Middle East Conflict Disrupts Supply
The national average price for gasoline in the United States passed the $4 per gallon mark on Monday as the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate. Later in the day, prices retreated slightly, to stand at $3.950 per gallon, according to GasBuddy, and $3.990 per gallon, according to AAA. “Gasoline and diesel prices continue to climb to multi-year highs as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz curtails the flow of millions of barrels of crude oil each day,” GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, Patrick De Haan, said Monday. “The situation remains highly volatile and unpredictable, but upward pressure on fuel prices is likely to persist as long as global oil supplies are constrained by the continued disruption in the Strait,” De Haan added, forecasting above-$4 prices for gasoline and diesel climbing closer to $6 per gallon unless the situation in the Middle East changes. “Americans have already spent nearly $8 billion more on gasoline over the past month, a trend that poses growing risks to the broader economy, while surging diesel prices may begin to reaccelerate inflation,” the analyst said. The fuel price jump in the United States follows West Texas Intermediate topping $100 at the end of last week and staying in three-digit territory as
President Trump issued yet another threat to Iran over the weekend, saying the U.S. “will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet ‘touched.’”
The threat was followed earlier today by the news of Iran hitting a Kuwaiti supertanker with a drone and setting it on fire. The vessel was fully laden, the Kuwaiti state oil company said, anchored at Dubai Port when it was attacked.
NN: Five dollar gasoline now! Try ten dollar gasoline soon come and $200 when the next wave comes.
Trump again warns Iran to open Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump said on Monday the United States was in talks with a “more reasonable regime” to end the war in Iran but repeated his warning to Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz or risk U.S attacks on its oil wells and power plants.
“Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately ‘Open for Business,’ we will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island,” Trump wrote in a social media post.
Trump also threatened to attack the desalination plants that supply clean water in Iran. The U.S. president said last week he would pause attacks on Iran’s energy plants for 10 days, which would be until April 6, U.S. time. While Trump has said the U.S. and Iran are making progress in talks, he has also been sending more U.S. troops to the region, leading Iran’s parliament speaker to accuse Washington of sending messages about possible negotiations while planning a ground invasion, prompting more defiance from Tehran.
NN: Don’t let them shit you. The straights must be opened. Trump has no choice he has to keep fighting till the straights reopen. So this crises is far from over and in fact growing by the day. And oil will pass $150 a barrel.
Trump again warns Iran to open Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump said on Monday the United States was in talks with a “more reasonable regime” to end the war in Iran but repeated his warning to Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz or risk U.S attacks on its oil wells and power plants.
“Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately ‘Open for Business,’ we will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island,” Trump wrote in a social media post. Trump also threatened to attack the desalination plants that supply clean water in Iran. The U.S. president said last week he would pause attacks on Iran’s energy plants for 10 days, which would be until April 6, U.S. time. While Trump has said the U.S. and Iran are making progress in talks, he has also been sending more U.S. troops to the region, leading Iran’s parliament speaker to accuse Washington of sending messages about possible negotiations while planning a ground invasion, prompting more defiance from Tehran. Iranian leaders have denied being in direct talks with the U.S.
Brent rises 2% after Trump signals taking Iran’s oil….. Trump: My favorite thing is to take the oil in Iran
Crude oil prices rose on Monday with Brent futures jumping by more than 2% after United States President Donald Trump said that his “favorite thing” about his country’s military operation in the Middle East would be to “take the oil” from Iran, despite facing opposition in the US. Traders also kept their eyes on the developments in the Iran war, as reports signaled that Washington is preparing a ground operation that could last several weeks.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for May’s deliveries increased by 1.35% at 2:27 am ET to $100.99 per barrel. Meanwhile, Brent for the same month’s settlements climbed by 2.42% to $115.3 per barrel at 2:27 am ET.
Trump: My favorite thing is to take the oil in Iran
United States President Donald Trump remarked in an interview with The Financial Times that his “favorite thing” about Washington and Israel’s military campaign against Iran is “to take the oil” in that country, but that he faces opposition on the home front. Trump insisted that “some stupid people back in the US say: ‘Why are you doing that?’ But they’re stupid people.” He claimed that one of the ways to achieve such a goal would be to seize Iran’s oil hub, the Kharg Island, which the US could do “very easily.” “We have a lot of options,” Trump said. “It would also mean we had to be there for a while.”
Previously, Trump told Israel’s Channel 14 that the US is close to controlling the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was considering sending troops to Iran to extract 1,000 pounds of the country’s uranium.
NN: I think its pretty obvious Trump will seize Kharg Island
Strikes Continue as Houthis Join Iran War, US Troops Arrive
Attacks in the Middle East conflict extended into a fifth week Sunday, with Israel striking Tehran and Saudi Arabia intercepting almost a dozen drones, a day after Yemen-based Houthi militants entered the war. The strikes came as 3,500 additional US troops arrived in the Middle East and regional powers including Saudi Arabia and Turkey meet in Pakistan to discuss how to end the conflict, which has killed thousands and caused chaos in commodity markets and global trade. Trump Admin Signals No Immediate Plans for Invasion The Iran-backed Houthis launched ballistic missiles at Israel on Saturday morning, following US-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Tehran also struck aluminum producers in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, along with a US base in Saudi Arabia, wounding a dozen American personnel. The Washington Post reported that the US defense department was preparing for potentially weeks of ground operations in Iran, citing unidentified US officials. Any mission would likely first target opening the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which a fifth of seaborne global oil flowed before the war but which has now slowed to a trickle, inflicting the biggest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told the semi-official Tasnim news agency “our men are waiting for American soldiers to enter on the ground.” The strait has emerged as Iran’s main source of leverage in the war, and Pakistan on Saturday said it had reached a deal with Tehran to allow 20 of its ships passage. Bahrain on Sunday announced a ban on fishing and pleasure boats at night, citing the Iranian threat. Saudi Arabia has managed to reroute some of its oil around the strait, with its East-West pipeline now operating at its full capacity of 7 million barrels a day, according to a person familiar with the matter. Iran launched what it said were retaliatory strikes on Gulf Arab states and Israel after US-Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities and steel plants on Friday. Meanwhile, in a sign of the conflict’s long reach, French anti-terrorism authorities are investigating a foiled bombing near the Bank of America Corp. headquarters in Paris that they said appeared to be linked to the Middle East conflict. Iran’s state-run news agency IRNA reported extensive damage to residential areas in Tehran overnight, with early reports of civilian injuries. The semi-official Fars news agency said five people were killed and two boats were hit in early Sunday attacks on a port in the southern Hormozgan province. In the city of Shaft, near the Caspian Sea, one person was killed in strikes on a residential area.
Pentagon preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, Washington Post reports
The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, the Washington Post reported Saturday, citing U.S. officials. The plans could involve raids by Special Operations and conventional infantry troops, the Post reported. Whether President Donald Trump would approve any of those plans remains uncertain, according to the Post. The Trump administration has deployed U.S. Marines to the Middle East as the war in Iran stretches into its fifth week, and also has been planning to send thousands of soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne to the region.