Iran's Foreign Ministry: Iran believes the US wants to gain access to Iran's oil resources Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry orders preparations for releasing national oil reserves British media: G7 finance ministers will discuss the possibility of using oil reserves at a meeting with the International Energy Agency Media: The US is concerned about Israel's strike on Iran's fuel storage facilities Russian presidential special envoy: Europe must diversify its energy supply for survival

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei said that the US wants to gain access to Iran's oil resources.

Baghaei said at a briefing: "About what the US's goals are, there is no doubt that no one has questioned the US's goal of gaining access to oil resources." The Iranian SNN TV station released clips from this briefing.

According to Kyodo News, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has issued instructions to 10 national oil reserve bases to prepare for releasing oil reserves.

This is a precautionary measure aimed at responding to possible disruptions in oil supply due to the situation in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Kyodo News cited a spokesperson from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, who said: "The exercise of releasing reserves is conducted regularly, but this does not mean that the release of reserves will occur soon."

The Financial Times reported, citing sources including a senior G7 official, that G7 finance ministers will hold an emergency meeting with International Energy Agency (IEA) Director Fatih Birol on March 9 to discuss the possibility of jointly using strategic oil reserves.

The report by The Financial Times stated: "G7 finance ministers will discuss the possibility of jointly releasing oil reserves under the coordination of the IEA during an emergency meeting on Monday."

The paper pointed out that ministers will call Birol at 15:30 Moscow time to discuss the consequences of the Iran conflict. Sources said that three G7 countries, including the US, have agreed to use their reserves. A source from the paper emphasized that the US believes 25% to 30% of the reserves should be used.

According to Axios, citing sources, the US is worried about Israel's attack on Iran's fuel storage facilities because it could affect oil prices and strengthen public support for the current Iranian government.

The Israeli Defense Forces previously stated that they had attacked several oil storage facilities in Tehran.

The report noted: "The US is worried that attacking infrastructure serving ordinary citizens may backfire strategically, uniting the Iranian society more firmly behind the government and causing oil prices to rise."

The report said that Israeli and US officials stated that the Israeli military had informed the US military in advance about the attack. Additionally, a US source said that the US was surprised by the scale of the Israeli strike.

The report cited a US official as saying: "We think this is not a good idea."

An Israeli official told Axios: "The US questioned Israel about this attack: 'What the hell is going on?' (WTF)"

Kirill Dmitriev, president of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and special representative of the Russian President for foreign investment and economic cooperation, said that Europe must diversify its energy supply to survive.

Dmitriev pointed out on the social networking platform X that the impact of the energy crisis may be more severe and longer-lasting than many people expect.

He wrote: "Most EU officials have not yet realized the consequences. I predict that the strategic mistake of abandoning Russian oil, which is crucial to the survival of the EU, will be fully exposed. Diversify to survive."

He attached a note he made last year to his post on the social platform X, in which he predicted that oil prices would rise above $100 per barrel.

Dmitriev also said that if the Middle East conflict continues, oil prices could exceed $200 per barrel.

Trading data showed that Brent crude prices broke above $110 per barrel for the first time since July 2022 after midnight.

Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that European politicians are worried that if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for a long time, Europe will have to reconsider its position on restoring relations with Russian energy.

Russia has repeatedly pointed out that Western countries making the mistake of abandoning purchases of Russian energy will face a new, more serious dependence due to high prices. Moscow said that countries that refuse to buy directly will still purchase Russian coal, oil, and gas through intermediaries at higher prices.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1859206233241609/

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