YYVH INTELLIGENCE TERMINAL

Israel has announced it will reduce defense imports from France to zero, reallocating funds to domestic or allied purchases, in retaliation for French policies deemed hostile, including recognizing Palestine and denying Israeli military aircraft overflight. France expressed surprise at U.S. criticism of the overflight ban, stating its decision aligns with its consistent policy since the onset of regional conflict.

** UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that Britain will convene approximately 35 nations this week to discuss diplomatic, political, and subsequent military planning measures aimed at reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed by Iran following US-Israeli airstrikes. The closure has triggered a surge in global oil and gas prices, directly threatening the transit route for one-fifth of the world's seaborne oil and LNG.

**

President Donald Trump said the US could be leaving the Iran war very soon, adding that the exit could be within two or three weeks. "We'll be leaving very soon," Trump told reporters at the White House.

The president said securing the Strait of Hormuz is "not for us," and that the responsibility for keeping the vital waterway open will rest with countries that rely on it. "That’s not for us. That’ll be for France. That’ll be for whoever’s using the strait," he said.

Trump indicated that Iran could also reach a deal with the US during that period.

The Trump administration has repeatedly claimed that the US has won the Iran war and achieved its military goals.

The Iranian foreign minister in an interview with news network Al Jazeera said Tuesday that Iran had not responded to a 15-point proposal sent by the US to end the war in the region.

Abbas Araghchi said he had received a direct message from US special envoy Steve Witkoff, but denied the countries were negotiating.

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Summary
Prime minister delivers rare address to nation
Months ahead may not be easy, Albanese warns
Australians urged to save fuel amid supply crunch
SYDNEY, April 1 (Reuters) - 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 at 7 p.m. (0800 GMT). Similar addresses were made by previous prime ministers during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2008 global financial crisis.
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Australia, which imports about 90% of its fuel, has seen ​petrol prices surge and experienced localised shortages as a result of the U.S.-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.
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"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."
FUEL STOCKS BELOW RECOMMENDED LEVEL
The month-long conflict has spread across the Middle East, killing thousands, disrupting energy supplies and threatening to send the global ​economy into a tailspin.





Albanese said the ​coming months "may not be easy" ⁠but said the government would do everything it could to help Australians.
Earlier this week, the government announced it would halve the excise on petrol and diesel and remove the heavy-road-user charge for three ​months to help households cope with a surge in costs driven by the war, at a ​cost to the ⁠government of around A$2.55 billion ($1.75 billion).
Australia has its highest fuel stocks in 15 years, but they are still far below the International Energy Agency recommendation of 90 days. To boost supply, the government has temporarily relaxed fuel standards and also released petrol and diesel from its domestic reserves.
Treasurer ⁠Jim Chalmers ​said on Wednesday small businesses affected by the war would be given easier ​access to credit.

Starmer wants to repair 'deep damage' caused by Brexit
UK wants 'ambitious' reset in ties with EU
Trump criticised Britain for refusing to help in war
UK hosting summit on opening Strait of Hormuz
LONDON, April 1 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday that the global instability caused ‌by the Iran war means Britain should pivot to focusing on closer economic and defence ties with Europe, following repeated criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Starmer said building stronger relations with Europe would be at the centre of a summit with the European Union in the summer, as he warned the consequences of ​the Iran war would last for a generation.
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"It is increasingly clear that as the world continues down this volatile path, ​our long-term national interest requires closer partnership with our allies in Europe," Starmer told reporters at a press ⁠conference in Downing Street.
Trump has repeatedly insulted Starmer, calling him cowardly because of his unwillingness to join the U.S. war on Iran, ​saying he was "No Winston Churchill” and describing Britain's aircraft carriers as "toys".
In a sign that British foreign policy was shifting away from the United ​States, traditionally its closest ally, Starmer said he saw his country's future being more aligned with Europe.
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UK TO HOLD MEETING ON REOPENING STRAIT
After Trump was elected as president for a second term in 2024, Starmer tried to position himself as a conduit between Europe and the United States. But their relationship has ​publicly deteriorated over the Iran war.
Starmer initially denied a request from the U.S. to attack Iran from two British bases, but later ​agreed to allow what he calls defensive missions aimed at protecting residents of the region, including British citizens.

Item 1 of 4 Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a press conference at Downing Street in London, Britain, April 1, 2026. Frank Augstein/Pool via REUTERS
[1/4]Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a press conference at Downing Street in London, Britain, April 1, 2026. Frank Augstein/Pool via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab


Asked about Trump's criticism, Starmer said he would ‌not give ⁠in to "pressure" from Trump to be dragged into the war.
Starmer instead said the government was focused on deepening its relationship with Europe and it was necessary to undo some of the "deep damage" done by Brexit.
Although Starmer called for an "ambitious" reset in relations, he ruled out rejoining the EU's customs union or its single market.

The opposition Conservative Party criticised Starmer, saying he was trying to "reopen the old wounds of the ​Brexit years", while the populist Reform ​UK party said he should ⁠have announced measures to reduce energy prices.
Starmer did not announce any new policies to help households at the press conference. But he did say that Britain would this week host meetings with allies aimed ​at opening the Strait of Hormuz, the vital energy shipping route that has been effectively blocked by ​Iran since it ⁠was attacked by the U.S. and Israel, and 35 countries were now involved in efforts.
Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper would host a virtual meeting of the group on Thursday to assess diplomatic and political measures to reopen the Strait "after the fighting has stopped", Starmer said.
France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, ⁠Japan, Australia, South ​Korea, Canada and the United Arab Emirates are among the countries who will attend ​the talks, according to a British government statement.
A British official said it was expected that any first phase would focus on mine-hunting, followed by a second phase to ​protect tankers crossing the area.
Reporting by Sarah Young, Andrew MacAskill, Sam Tabahriti; Editing by Catarina Demony, Michael Holden, Alexandra Hudson and Alex Richardson

President Trump is set to address the nation on the Iran war at 9 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday night, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying he would be providing "an important update," without providing further details.

On Tuesday, Trump said he expected the conflict to be over in two to three weeks, adding, "we'll be leaving very soon," and promising gas prices would then "come tumbling down."

Trump shrugged off what would happen to the blockaded Strait of Hormuz – which has cut off one fifth of the world's oil supply – saying, "we're not going to have anything to do with it." He said that it wouldn't affect the U.S. and would be something for other countries to deal with.

"They'll be able to fend for themselves," he said, having previously told European allies who have refused to enter the war to "go get your own oil!"

The assertion to wrap up the war quickly comes just days after Trump threatened to up the ante if there was no deal and Tehran didn't reopen the strait. He said he could seize Iran's oil and blow up all of their Electric Generating Plants and desalinization plants. He also said he was considering an invasion of Iran's key oil export terminal, Kharg Island.

But on Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed his boss's latest comments on the war being over in a matter of weeks, saying the main goal of preventing Iran from being able to build a nuclear weapon had been achieved.

Rubio has expressed frustration in recent days over news reports accusing the administration of lacking clear objectives in Iran.

He said the objectives were: the destruction of Iran's air force, the destruction of its navy, the "severe diminishing" of its capability to launch missiles, and the destruction of its factories.

Regime change, previously touted by the administration as a goal, was not mentioned. Earlier this week Trump said he considered regime change had been achieved, despite the fact that it remains a hardline theocracy led by the son of the previous ayatollah.