Dubai, Apr 1 (AP) US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said nations upset by high fuel prices should “go get your own oil” as Iran maintains its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. The US-Israeli war with Iran has caused major disruptions to the world’s supply of oil and natural gas, roiling global markets.

However, the Dow Jones Industrial Average soared more than 1,100 points on Tuesday as doubt swung back to hope on Wall Street for a possible end to the war. US gas prices have jumped past an average of USD 4 a gallon for the first time since 2022 as fuel prices continue to soar worldwide.

Israel and the US launched a new wave of strikes on Iran, hitting Tehran in early Tuesday. Iran has been launching fewer missiles than at start of the war, but it continues to deploy more low-flying drones that are harder to intercept. The conflict has killed more than 3,000 people in the region, and millions have been displaced in Lebanon and Iran.

Here is the latest: US officials raise concerns about indirect talks with Iran, Islamabad as meeting place ——————————————————————————————- While welcoming Pakistan’s desire to help mediate in the Iran conflict, US officials have nonetheless soured on the idea of using third-party mediators to do anything more than initiate talks.

These officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the diplomatic effort, said the experience with Oman as mediator before the war had clearly not worked and that direct negotiations, if they can be started, are far more efficient.

The officials also expressed doubts about Islamabad being chosen as a venue for any upcoming negotiations, mainly because of security risks. Traveling there would mean flying over one of two war zones – Russia-Ukraine or the various Middle East conflicts – or taking a very long route over Asia.

A UN diplomat familiar with the talks, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private negotiations, acknowledged the risk given Pakistan’s proximity to Iran, but added that given that the South Asian country is one of few in the region with no US airbases, it’s a safer bet.

US warns Americans in Saudi Arabia to shelter in place ———————————————————- The US State Department’s consular affairs branch said that it was “tracking reports” that hotels and other gathering points, such as US business and educational institutions, could be targeted.

The US Embassy in Riyadh also told US government employees to shelter in place.

Iran has repeatedly threatened educational and business places connected to Americans in the region during the war.

Third US aircraft carrier to join Iran war ———————————————- The aircraft carrier USS George H W Bush deployed Tuesday and is slated to head to the Middle East, two US officials said.

The move would make the Bush the third aircraft carrier to have supported the Iran war, along with the USS Gerald R Ford, which is now undergoing repairs, and USS Abraham Lincoln, which arrived in the region in January.

The Ford now is docked in Croatia after undergoing repairs in a nearby naval base in Crete following a fire in a laundry room on March 12.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans, noted that plans for ship deployments are always subject to change.

The Bush is deploying from Norfolk, Virginia, with three destroyers: USS Ross, USS Donald Cook, and USS Mason.

Revolutionary Guard threatens US tech firms, says they help spy on Iran —————————————————————————— Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has threatened to attack US companies including some of the biggest tech giants after accusing them of being involved in “terrorist espionage” operations in Iran.

A statement carried by Iranian state media listed 18 companies whose offices in the Middle East region they claimed would be legitimate targets for Iran starting Wednesday. Those include Apple, Microsoft, Google and others.

The Guard has launched missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf Arab countries since the United States and Israel began bombing Iran on February 28.

Earlier this month, Iranian drone strikes caused damage to three Amazon Web Services facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain Canada condemns Israel’s invasion of Lebanon as illegal, calls for ceasefire ——————————————————————————– Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his nation “condemns” the invasion as a violation of Lebanon’s’ s sovereignty.

As Israeli ground forces push deeper into the country, Carney said Lebanon’s government shares Israel’s stated goal of curbing Hezbollah, even as Israel cites the presence of fighters to justify the offensive.

Carney made the call for the ceasefire Tuesday while speaking to reporters in Quebec.

Israel blames Hezbollah for all 3 UN peacekeeper deaths ————————————————————- UN Ambassador Danny Danon said Israel now blames Hezbollah for all three of the recent peacekeeper deaths in southern Lebanon, citing explosive devices Monday near Bani Ayan and the shelling of a UN peacekeeper position Saturday.

He provided no evidence, and a UN spokesman said the investigation is ongoing. The three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed as Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in fighting.

Late on Tuesday, Israel’s military said its troops were not present in the southern Lebanon area where an explosion killed two UNIFIL peacekeepers on Monday. It also said no explosive device had been placed in the area by Israeli soldiers.

Israel gives more information on 4 soldiers killed in Lebanon —————————————————————– In an update Tuesday evening, the Israeli military said soldiers from the Nahal reconnaissance unit engaged in close combat after militants opened fire on them overnight in southern Lebanon. With support from aircraft and tanks, the militants were killed, according to the statement.

The IDF first announced the four soldiers’ deaths at around 6:22 am local time. Additionally, one soldier was severely wounded and another moderately injured.

UK defense secretary defends ties with the US despite criticism from Hegseth ———————————————————————————- British Defense Secretary John Healey said Tuesday that the US remains a key ally despite criticism from his American counterpart, Pete Hegseth, that the UK had not deployed its navy to the Middle East.

“The US is a uniquely close ally to the UK,” Healey said in Qatar. “We do things as two nations that no other militaries or intelligence services do. And my job as defense secretary is to make sure that we can, in this Middle Eastern conflict, defend Britain and British people, and we are; and British bases, and we are; and British allies and partners, and we are.” Hegseth sniped at the UK for not sending warships to the region, saying at a Washington news conference that “last time I checked there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well.” Healey announced that the UK is sending more missile and air defense systems to Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and extending the use of its Typhoon fighter jets in Qatar.

World Health Organization says US-Israeli strikes have hit near its Tehran offices ————————————————————————————– In a social media post, WHO’s director general said the windows in its offices in Iran’s capital were shattered after strikes in the last two days, but that no one was injured.

“Strikes impacting the operations and damaging the premises of WHO and other @UN agencies, the locations of which have been clearly identified, cannot be tolerated and must be avoided at all costs,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. (AP) ARB ARB