‘More crushing, wider and destructive actions’ – Iran responds to Trump’s television speech; and oil prices surge anew

‘More crushing, wider and destructive actions’ – Iran responds to Trump’s television speech; and oil prices surge anew Follow the latest on our Irish Independent live blog here Key updates Iran's military warns of 'more destructive' attacks until adversaries' 'surrender' How transatlantic rift widens as Trump lashes out at Nato allies over Iran war Irish tourists could face surcharges and cancellations as price of jet fuel climbs Hopes dim for swift end to Iran war after Trump speech, oil prices surge anew ‘We have all cards, they have none’ – Five takeaways from Trump's televised speech to the US Denise Calnan Iran's military warns of 'more destructive' attacks until adversaries' 'surrender' Tehran will press on with the Middle East war until the United States and Israel face "permanent regret and surrender", the spokesperson of its armed forces' unified command said on Thursday, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The threat followed comments by U.S. President Donald Trump that Washington would hit Iran "extremely hard" within weeks, although Iran was "essentially decimated" with the United States on track to achieve its military objectives. Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson of the Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters, responded that U.S. and Israeli assessments of Iran’s military capabilities were "incomplete". Iran would step up its military actions, with "more crushing, broader and more destructive" attacks in store for its adversaries, he added. Reuters Denise Calnan LATEST: Iran responds to Trump's speech, warns of 'more crushing, wider and destructive actions' The Unified Command of Iran's armed forces spokesperson has warned the US and Israel of 'more crushing, wider and destructive actions' Reuters Denise Calnan How transatlantic rift widens as Trump lashes out at Nato allies over Iran war US President’s latest comments about pulling out of the alliance are clearest and most disparaging yet President Donald Trump says he’s strongly considering pulling the United States out of Nato, ratcheting up his criticism of European allies and exposing a wider rift in the transatlantic alliance – this time over the Iran war. While Mr Trump’s talk of a possible Nato pullout dates back years, the comments to The Telegraph newspaper in the UK., published yesterday, were among the clearest and most disparaging yet – suggesting that the fracture has deepened perhaps to a point of no return. Asked whether he would reconsider US membership in the alliance after the conflict in the Middle East ends, Mr Trump replied: “Oh yes, I would say (it’s) beyond reconsideration.” It wasn’t clear whether Mr Trump could unilaterally pull the US out, because it appears that he would need congressional approval. Nato didn’t provide immediate comment when contacted by The Associated Press. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that his government was “fully committed to Nato” and called it “the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen”. Before a Trump speech later yesterday US Senator Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, and Senator Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, said in a joint statement that “Nato is the most successful military alliance in history” and stressed that the Senate “will continue to support the alliance for the peace and protection it provides” the United States, Europe and the world. Many European leaders have felt political pressure over the war, which faces opposition in their countries and has sent petroleum prices soaring as Iran has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil passes. “Whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise, I am going to act in the British national interest in all the decisions I make,” Mr Starmer said yesterday. The UK is working on plans that could help assuage Mr Trump, and Mr Starmer said military planners will work on a postwar security plan for the Strait. Today British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will host a virtual meeting of 35 countries that have signed up to help ensure security for shipping in the Strait – after the fighting ends. Iulia-Sabina Joja, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, alluded to Mr Trump’s exhortation on Tuesday for allies to “go get your own oil” – in a social media post insisting it wasn’t America’s job to secure the Strait. “The Europeans are not keen to go into an active warfare situation, to so-called ‘get’ their energy out of the Strait,” said Joba, a former deputy project manager at Nato Allied Command Transformation in Virginia. Long-simmering tensions within the alliance have bubbled up again over the war. As energy prices have spiked, Mr Trump has been desperate to get countries to send their ships to the Strait of Hormuz. He has called Nato allies “cowards”. Even since his first term, Mr Trump has urged the allies to assume greater responsibility for their own security and spend more on defence. He has argued that the US has done more for them than the other way around. A US pullout would essentially spell the end of Nato, which flourished for decades under American leadership. Speaking Tuesday on Fox News, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: “I do think, unfortunately, we are going to have to reexamine whether or not this alliance that has served this country well for a while is still serving that purpose.” Mr Rubio raised questions with interviewer Sean Hannity about whether Nato has “become a one-way street where America is simply in a position to defend Europe – but when we need the help of our allies, they’re going to deny us basing rights and they’re going to deny us overflight.” The criticism from Mr Rubio could raise concerns in the alliance about whether the US under Mr Trump may no longer consider Nato as worth the time, money and personnel that Washington has invested in it. The very mention of a pullout could weaken the alliance’s deterrence, particularly with Russia: It relies on ensuring that Russian President Vladimir Putin believes Nato will retaliate if he decides to one day expand Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Nato is built on Article 5 of its founding treaty, which pledges that an attack on any one member will be met with a response from them all. As the Iran war has spread, missiles and drones have been fired toward Nato member Turkey and a British military base on Cyprus, fuelling speculation about what might prompt Nato to trigger its collective security guarantee and come to their rescue. The alliance hasn’t intervened or signalled any plan to. Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte – who has voiced support for Mr Trump and Washington’s role in the alliance – has been focusing mostly on the Russia-Ukraine war since Ukraine borders four Nato countries. Nato operates uniquely by consensus. All 32 countries must agree for it to take decisions, so political priorities play a role. Even invoking Article 5 requires agreement among the allies. Turkey or the UK can’t trigger it alone. By Jill Lawless and Jamey Keaten ©Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd Denise Calnan Irish tourists could face surcharges and cancellations as price of jet fuel climbs Situation in Strait of Hormuz driving up costs amid US’s war in Middle East, Pól Ó Conghaile and Ralph Riegel report Irish sunseekers face the prospect of package-holiday fuel surcharges, spiralling airfare costs and flight cancellations as the impact of the Iran war escalates. Read the full piece here: Denise Calnan Hopes dim for swift end to Iran war after Trump speech, oil prices surge anew - Trump says Iran will be hit hard for next 2-3 weeks - Oil benchmarks rise after speech, stocks slide - US nearing completion of core objectives in Iran, Trump says - Senior Iranian source says no talks via mediators on temporary truce - Iran 'essentially decimated', Trump says Hopes for a swift end to the Middle East war faded on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump vowed more aggressive strikes on Iran, in an eagerly anticipated address that disappointed investors hoping for clearer signals of a way out. Stocks slid and oil prices surged after Trump said military operations would be intensified in the next two to three weeks, offering no concrete timeline for ending a conflict that sparked global energy supply chaos and has threatened to send the world economy into a tailspin. "I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America's military objectives shortly, very shortly," Trump said in a Wednesday evening prime-time speech. "We're going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong." Trump also suggested the war could escalate if Iranian leaders did not give in to U.S. terms during negotiations, with strikes on Iran's energy and oil infrastructure possible. No reassurance Benchmark Brent crude prices jumped about 5ppc to $106.16 per barrel, with little reassurance from Trump's address about how the critical Strait of Hormuz energy conduit would reopen. Prices had fallen earlier on Thursday after settling lower in the previous session. Stocks took a hit, with U.S. index futures EScv1 down 1pc and European futures STXEc1 sinking over 1.5pc. Almost all Asian bourses were in the red, with Japan's Nikkei down 1.8pc and MSCI's index of other Asia-Pacific shares down more than 1.5pc. "If he (Trump) was trying to inspire confidence in the markets, he has not done that. The key question in all investors' minds is 'When is this going to be over?', that is what is creating the volatility," said Russel Chesler, Head of Investments and Capital Markets at Vaneck Australia. Shortly after Trump's speech, the Israeli military said it had identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israeli territory. Thousands of people have been killed across the Middle East since February 28, when the U.S. and Israel struck Iran, triggering Iranian attacks on Israel, U.S. bases and the Gulf states, while opening a new front in Lebanon. Iran also all but closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway carrying about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas, pushing up energy costs and weighing on Trump's sagging approval ratings months ahead of pivotal midterm congressional elections. But Trump in his speech said the U.S. did not need the strait and he challenged allies who rely on oil in the region to work towards reopening it. "Many Americans have been concerned to see the recent rise in gasoline prices here at home," Trump said. "This short-term increase has been entirely the result of the Iranian regime launching deranged terror attacks against commercial oil tankers of neighbouring countries that have nothing to do with the conflict." The International Monetary Fund, World Bank and International Energy Agency on Wednesday warned the war was having "substantial, global and highly asymmetric" effects and said they would coordinate their response, including through potential financial support to those countries hit hardest. Steve Holland and Enas Alashray, Reuters Bureaux Denise Calnan ‘We have all cards, they have none’ – Five takeaways from Trump's televised speech to the US US President Donald Trump staunchly defended his handling of the month-old U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in a prime-time address on Wednesday, saying the U.S. military was nearing completion of its mission while also reinforcing his threats to bomb the Islamic Republic back to the Stone Age. He delivered his 19-minute speech against a backdrop of high global oil prices and his own low approval ratings. Here are some key takeaways: 1. Looking for an exit – but not quite yet Trump, facing a war-wary American public and sliding poll numbers, said the U.S. had destroyed Iran's navy and air force, crippled its ballistic missile and nuclear program and would continue to hit them “extremely hard” over the next two to three weeks. But beyond that, even while saying the U.S. military was on track to complete its objectives “very fast,” he stopped short of offering a firm timeline for an end to hostilities. And he suggested the war could escalate if Iranian leaders did not capitulate to U.S. terms during negotiations, with strikes on Iran's energy and oil infrastructure possible. Trump’s use of his speech to reiterate threats and send mixed messages may do little to calm jittery financial markets and ease the concerns of an American public that has shown little support for the country’s biggest military operation since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The often conflicting signals that Trump has issued throughout the course of the conflict have only added to confusion, with the president one moment calling for a diplomatic settlement and in the next threatening to rain further destruction on Iran amid a continuing U.S. military buildup in the region. President Donald Trump concludes his speech about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House (Alex Brandon/Pool/AP) 2. The Strait of Hormuz Trump’s comments on Wednesday were not clear about whether U.S. military operations could end even before Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway on which it has a chokehold that has created the worst global energy shock in history. He instead repeated his calls for countries that rely on Gulf oil to "take the lead" and assume the burden of reopening the waterway, not the U.S., which he said does not need energy supplies from the region. Western allies, however, have resisted joining a war that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu started without consulting them. In his speech, however, Trump stopped short of saying, as he has in recent media interviews, that he is considering withdrawing from NATO over what he sees as its failure to support the U.S. in the Iran conflict. The risk, analysts say, is that Iran would essentially be left with significant leverage over the strait, the passageway for a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas shipments. Washington’s Gulf allies may also resent a hasty U.S. exit, given that they could be left with a wounded, hostile neighbour. 3. Mission accomplished? Trump touted the U.S. military’s successes in the conflict but questions remain about whether he has truly achieved the main goal he laid out at the start of the war: Closing off Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon. More than a month later, Iran still has a stockpile of highly enriched uranium that could be processed to bomb grade, but it is believed to be mostly buried underground by U.S.-Israeli bombing in June. Trump, in a sudden reversal from his demands that Iran turn over the enriched uranium, told Reuters earlier on Wednesday that he no longer cared about the material because it was “so far underground” and U.S. satellites could keep an eye on the area. Iran has always denied seeking a nuclear bomb. While threatening new air strikes if Iran tries to move the stockpile, he made no mention of sending special forces on a risky mission to seize it, which U.S. officials have said is among the options under consideration. However, any deployment of ground troops would likely anger most Americans. Despite Trump’s claims of having destroyed Iran’s conventional military capabilities, it has demonstrated that its remaining missiles and drones can still be used to target Israel as well as U.S. Gulf allies and American military installations housed on their land. And Trump’s earlier calls for the overthrow of Iran’s theocratic rulers have gone unfulfilled. U.S.-Israeli air strikes killed many of the top leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but they have been replaced by even more hard-line successors, including Khamenei's son. U.S. intelligence has deemed the Iranian government largely intact. 4. Domestic politics Trump’s speech, his first prime-time address since the war started on February 28, was originally seen as being aimed at easing Americans’ concerns about the interventionist tendencies of a president who campaigned for his second term on a promise to keep the U.S. out of “stupid” military interventions. But Trump, whose advisers have pressed him to show the public that he considers kitchen-table issues a priority, gave only a nod to Americans’ anxieties and appeared to dismiss their economic pain as temporary and sure to ease once the war is over. “Many Americans have been concerned to see the recent rise in gasoline prices here at home,” he said. “This short-term increase has been entirely the result of the Iranian regime launching deranged terror attacks against commercial oil tankers of neighboring countries that have nothing to do with the conflict." While Trump’s MAGA movement has mostly stood with him, his grip on his political base could weaken if the economic impact, including high gas prices, persists with his Republican Party scrambling to keep control of Congress in November’s midterm elections. Trump’s overall approval rating has fallen to 36%, the lowest since his return to the White House, a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday found. After his TV appearance, stocks fell, the dollar strengthened and oil rose as Trump stopped short of providing a clear outline for when the war would end. The market reaction reflects a basic problem with Trump's dissonant messaging: He wants to reassure Americans that the war will be over soon, while at the same time threatening Iran with new attacks and suggesting he may leave without opening the Strait of Hormuz. 5. Flat performance? Wednesday’s address offered Trump precious prime-time viewership and a chance to reset with voters. He made a dramatic entrance, walking through double doors in the White House residence to approach the podium. But for the next 19 minutes, he spoke in a mostly subdued tone in a dimly lit room, sticking to well-worn talking points instead of clarifying his reasons for taking the U.S. to war. It was a far cry from the usual public appearances of the former reality TV star who was in front of probably his biggest audience since February’s State of the Union address. Matt Spetalnick and Humeyra Pamuk Matt Spetalnick and Humeyra Pamuk Alan Caulfield McEntee among European ministers expressing concern over Lebanon Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee is among a group of foreign ministers of European countries who have co-signed a letter criticising Israel and Hezbollah over the situation in Lebanon, which has created 1.2m refugees in the country. "We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Moldova, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Spain and Sweden, concerned by the conflict in the Middle East, are appalled by the dramatic situation and renewed escalation of violence in Lebanon, where there are already 1.2 million internally displaced persons, representing some 25% of the overall population. More than 1.000 people have been killed so far, most of them civilians, including children, aid workers and journalists, according to the Health Ministry of Lebanon," they have written. "We strongly condemn the decision by Hezbollah to attack Israel in support of Iran. Hezbollah must immediately cease all hostile actions against Israel and disarm, in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions. "We recall Israel’s obligation to fully abide by international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution and stress the importance of the protection of civilians and civilian objects. Attacks against civilians, healthcare personnel, aid workers, journalists, civilian infrastructure and facilities are unjustified and unacceptable. They must cease immediately. "Independent investigations are important in ensuring accountability. "Israeli military operations in Lebanon and Hezbollah’s attacks must cease. We urge Israel to fully respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and call on all parties, both Hezbollah and Israel, to halt military action. "We also call for full, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all affected populations. "We support the Lebanese government’s decision on State monopoly of weapons, its efforts to disarm Hezbollah and end its military activities, and welcome the Lebanese Cabinet’s decision, on 2 March 2026, to ban all security and military activities by Hezbollah, task the Lebanese Armed Forces with taking custody of Hezbollah’s weapons and oblige Hezbollah to hand over its weapons to the Lebanese State. We also commend the recent reform efforts by the Lebanese government in several domains. Those efforts must be supported instead of being undermined. It also remains essential for the international community to keep supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). "We support the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the implementation of its mandate. We condemn all attacks on UNIFIL’s contingents, which provoked unacceptable casualties among the peacekeepers, notably the killing of Indonesian peacekeepers. The safety and security of UN peacekeepers must be ensured at all times. "We express our condolences to all victims, and their families, of the violence in Lebanon and in Israel. "All parties must abide by the November 2024 ceasefire agreement and fully implement the UN Security Council Resolution 1701. We strongly encourage Israel to accept the call of the Lebanese authorities to hold direct negotiations. Efforts to support stabilization in Lebanon are instrumental to lasting peace and security in the Middle East. De-escalation is urgently needed. Diplomacy must prevail. "We have already mobilized substantial emergency and humanitarian assistance to relief Lebanon and its population, and we will continue to do so. We call on the international community to mobilize to further help Lebanon and its population." Rescue workers inspect the scene of an Israeli airstrike as fires burn among damaged vehicles in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) Amy Blaney Iranian president says in letter that Iran harbours no enmity towards ordinary Americans Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a letter addressed to the American people that his country harbours no enmity towards ordinary Americans, Press TV reported on Wednesday. He said in his letter that portraying Iran as a threat was "neither consistent with historical reality nor with present-day observable facts." Amy Blaney Ryanair warns Middle East war, fuel shortages could hit summer season flights Ryanair RYA.I CEO Michael O'Leary said jet fuel supply to Europe could be disrupted from June if the Middle East conflict does not end in the next month, potentially forcing the airline and rivals to consider cancelling summer season flights. O'Leary said the Irish carrier, Europe's largest by passenger numbers, is holding daily calls with all of its fuel suppliers across Europe to assess the situation, which the suppliers say will remain stable until the end of May. Global airlines are contending with fuel shortages and high prices as the month-old U.S.-Israeli war against Iran snarls the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping waterway from the Persian Gulf. Jet fuel prices have spiked since the conflict began. "If this (the conflict) continues through to the end of April, we're looking at a risk to supplies in early June. If it runs into May, then we don't know what goes on," O'Leary told a news conference in London. "If there's a risk to 10% or 20% of the fuel supply in June or July or August, then we and other airlines will have to start looking at cancelling some flights or taking some capacity out." Germany's Lufthansa LHAG.DE is also preparing for possible fuel shortages outside Europe, with the airline seeing early warning signs in Asia, CEO Carsten Spohr said on Wednesday. "If shortages in the kerosene supply occur, they are likely to be felt first outside Europe," Spohr told the FAZ newspaper, adding that some Asian airports were no longer accepting extra flights due to limited fuel availability. NO KNOCK-ON IMPACT ON FARES The head of the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday that oil supply disruptions will increase in April and begin to impact Europe's economy, with the lack of jet fuel and diesel likely to be the biggest problem. The situation has roiled airlines from Vietnam to the United States and badly dented major Gulf carriers including Emirates and Etihad. Scandinavian airline SAS and Vietnam Airlines HVN.HM have cancelled some flights, while United Airlines UAL.O is cutting some unprofitable flights due to high oil prices. Ryanair's O'Leary said the budget carrier would decide where to cut flights on a rolling weekly basis and focus on whichever airports have constrained fuel supply. As European airlines make most of their profit from June to September, Ryanair does not have the luxury of cutting out loss-making routes, he added. He singled out the United Kingdom as the European market most exposed to potential jet fuel shortages due to the amount of oil it imports from Kuwait. The International Air Transport Association estimates that around 25% to 30% of Europe's jet fuel demand originates from the Gulf, which it warned puts it among the most exposed regions. However, European airline stocks rose on Wednesday on hopes of a de-escalation of the conflict. O'Leary said Ryanair is not seeing much of a knock-on impact on its airfares from the conflict so far and that it still expects ticket prices to rise by 3 to 4% year-on-year from April to June, with traffic set to grow by about 5% over that period. O'Leary said the Irish carrier, Europe's largest by passenger numbers, is holding daily calls with all of its fuel suppliers across Europe to assess the situation, which the suppliers say will remain stable until the end of May. Global airlines are contending with fuel shortages and high prices as the month-old U.S.-Israeli war against Iran snarls the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping waterway from the Persian Gulf. Jet fuel prices have spiked since the conflict began. "If this (the conflict) continues through to the end of April, we're looking at a risk to supplies in early June. If it runs into May, then we don't know what goes on," O'Leary told a news conference in London. "If there's a risk to 10% or 20% of the fuel supply in June or July or August, then we and other airlines will have to start looking at cancelling some flights or taking some capacity out." Germany's Lufthansa LHAG.DE is also preparing for possible fuel shortages outside Europe, with the airline seeing early warning signs in Asia, CEO Carsten Spohr said on Wednesday. "If shortages in the kerosene supply occur, they are likely to be felt first outside Europe," Spohr told the FAZ newspaper, adding that some Asian airports were no longer accepting extra flights due to limited fuel availability. NO KNOCK-ON IMPACT ON FARES The head of the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday that oil supply disruptions will increase in April and begin to impact Europe's economy, with the lack of jet fuel and diesel likely to be the biggest problem. The situation has roiled airlines from Vietnam to the United States and badly dented major Gulf carriers including Emirates and Etihad. Scandinavian airline SAS and Vietnam Airlines HVN.HM have cancelled some flights, while United Airlines UAL.O is cutting some unprofitable flights due to high oil prices. Ryanair's O'Leary said the budget carrier would decide where to cut flights on a rolling weekly basis and focus on whichever airports have constrained fuel supply. As European airlines make most of their profit from June to September, Ryanair does not have the luxury of cutting out loss-making routes, he added. He singled out the United Kingdom as the European market most exposed to potential jet fuel shortages due to the amount of oil it imports from Kuwait. The International Air Transport Association estimates that around 25% to 30% of Europe's jet fuel demand originates from the Gulf, which it warned puts it among the most exposed regions. However, European airline stocks rose on Wednesday on hopes of a de-escalation of the conflict. O'Leary said Ryanair is not seeing much of a knock-on impact on its airfares from the conflict so far and that it still expects ticket prices to rise by 3 to 4% year-on-year from April to June, with traffic set to grow by about 5% over that period. Seoirse Mulgrew Rosatom to evacuate more than 200 staff from Bushehr nuclear plant this week Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom plans to evacuate more than 200 of its staff from Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant this week, Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev said on Rossiya-24 state television. Likhachev said up to 50 Rosatom personnel would remain at the plant, all of them volunteers. Reuters Seoirse Mulgrew Kuwait says it put out fire in airport fuel tanks after Iranian drone strike Kuwaiti firefighters on Wednesday extinguished a fire that broke out earlier in the day in fuel tanks at Kuwait airport following an Iranian drone attack, the government said. There were no casualties, and only material damage was reported. Reuters Eoghan Moloney Ryanair will consider cancelling flights if jet fuel supply disrupted from June, O'Leary says Ryanair and its rivals will have to start looking at cancelling some flights if there is a risk to the supply of jet fuel in June, July or August, CEO Michael O'Leary said on Wednesday. O'Leary said the airline is not seeing much of a knock-on impact on its airfares from the Middle East conflict and that it still expects ticket prices to rise by 3 to 4pc year-on-year from April to June, with traffic set to grow by about 5pc over that period. Sam Tabahriti, Reuters Seoirse Mulgrew US to leave Iran 'pretty quickly' and return if needed, Trump tells Reuters The United States will be "out of Iran pretty quickly" and could return for "spot hits" if needed, President Donald Trump told Reuters on Wednesday, hours before he was scheduled to make a primetime address to the nation. Trump also said he would express his disgust with NATO for what he considers the alliance's lack of support for U.S. objectives in Iran. He said he is "absolutely" considering an attempt to withdraw the United States from NATO. Asked when the United States would consider the Iran war over, Trump said: "I can't tell you exactly .... we're going to be out pretty quickly." He said U.S. action has ensured Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. "They won't have a nuclear weapon because they are incapable of that now, and then I'll leave, and I'll take everybody with me, and if we have to we'll come back to do spot hits," Trump said. Reuters Reuters Seoirse Mulgrew Trump says Iranian leader has asked for a ceasefire Iran's new leader has just asked the United States for a ceasefire, US President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post on Wednesday. "We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion," he said. The United States will be "out of Iran pretty quickly" and could return for "spot hits" if needed, President Donald Trump told Reuters on Wednesday, hours before he was scheduled to make a primetime address to the nation. Trump also said he would express his disgust with NATO for what he considers the alliance's lack of support for US objectives in Iran. He said he is "absolutely" considering an attempt to withdraw the United States from Nato. Asked when the United States would consider the Iran war over, Trump said: "I can't tell you exactly .... we're going to be out pretty quickly." Reuters Seoirse Mulgrew Iranian authorities warned Bulgaria not to let US use airports Iranian authorities warned NATO member Bulgaria last month not to let the U.S. use its airports for planes participating in military operations in Iran, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday. Earlier on Wednesday, Stanislav Balabanov, a deputy with the "There is Such People" party, showed a note from March 18 in which the Iranian government protested against U.S. military refuelling planes parked at Bulgaria's Vasil Levski airport. In the note, Iran said it "reserves the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security and national interests in accordance with international law." Later on Wednesday, in a statement to reporters, Deputy Foreign Minister Marin Raikov confirmed the note and said: "Bulgaria is not at war." "No combat aircraft are being loaded over Bulgaria to participate in military operations," he told reporters. "We maintain intact diplomatic relations with the Iranian side." In late February, Bulgarian media reported that several U.S. military planes landed at the Sofia Vasil Levski civilian airport, and authorities have said they were part of the NATO forward deployment which Raikov confirmed on Wednesday. "Our parliament has not approved decisions to support relevant military actions in the Strait of Hormuz region," he said. Some European countries, concerned over the war with Iran, have pushed back on U.S. military operations. Spain closed its airspace and denied base access, Italy rejected a stopover at Sigonella base, and France blocked overflight of U.S.–Israel weapons flights. Reuters Reuters Seoirse Mulgrew Germany reaffirms NATO commitment after Trump exit comments A German government spokesperson reaffirmed Berlin's commitment to the NATO defence alliance on Wednesday after comments by U.S. President Donald Trump to Britain's Daily Telegraph that he had moved beyond reconsidering his country's membership. "This isn't the first time he's done this, and since it's a recurring phenomenon, you can probably judge the consequences for yourself," said the spokesperson at a regular government press conference. "It's not my place here to comment on the American president's words. I simply want to state on behalf of the German government that we are, of course, committed to NATO." Reuters Reuters Seoirse Mulgrew NATO is not designed to carry out operations in Strait of Hormuz, says junior French minister NATO is a military alliance that ensures the security of the Euro-Atlantic area and is not designed to carry out operations in the Strait of Hormuz that would breach international law, France's junior army minister said on Wednesday. "Let me remind you what NATO is. It is a military alliance concerned with the security of the Euro-Atlantic region. It is not designed to carry out operations in the Strait of Hormuz, which would be a breach of international law," Alice Rufo said at the War & Peace conference in Paris. U.S. President Donald Trump said he was strongly considering pulling the United States out of NATO after allies failed to back U.S. military action against Iran, according to an interview with Britain's Daily Telegraph. Reuters Reuters Eoghan Moloney Australian leader urges using public transport, says war's effects will last months Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned the economic shocks of the war in the Middle East would be felt for months and encouraged citizens to take public transport in a rare address to the nation on Wednesday. The address was broadcast simultaneously across major television and radio networks. Similar addresses were made by previous prime ministers during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2008 global financial crisis. Australia, which imports about 90pc of its fuel, has seen petrol prices surge and experienced localised shortages as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. "I understand that right now it's hard to be positive," Albanese said. "The war in the Middle East has caused the biggest spike in petrol and diesel prices in history. Australia is not an active participant in this war. But all Australians are paying higher prices because of it. "The economic shocks caused by this war will be with us for months." Albanese encouraged citizens to "do their bit" to ease pressure on fuel supplies, such as not stockpiling fuel ahead of the Easter holidays, which begin this week, and taking public transport. "If you're hitting the road, don't take more fuel than you need - just fill up like you normally would. Think of others in your community, in the bush and in critical industries," he said. "And over coming weeks, if you can switch to catching the train or bus or tram to work, do so." The message came as a relief to some who were bracing for more drastic measures to be announced. "I drive for work so I'm really happy he didn't say 'work from home only'," said Patrick Connelly, 24, a swimming pool technician who watched the address from a Sydney pub. "He said to just drive as much as you usually do. Don't take more than you need." Alasdair Pal, Christine Chen and Hollie Adams, Reuters Eoghan Moloney