Trump’s comments on prolonged war prompt oil-price rise
US President Donald Trump’s comment on the Iran conflict that “[w]e will hit them extremely hard over next two to three weeks … We will bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong” prompted a surge in oil prices, with Brent jumping 5% to $106 a barrel. Trump also said the US was on track to complete all of its military objectives against Iran soon. He urged countries that needed oil from the Middle East to take the lead in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. Some 20% of the world’s oil supply normally passes through the strait.
Iran promises “crushing, broader and destructive” attacks against US, Israel
An Iranian military spokesman has said in a statement that the US and Israel “must pay for the aggression you initiated”, and should expect “crushing, broader and destructive” attacks. The statement, shared on the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency and the semi-official Fars news agency, says the US and Israel have been hitting “insignificant” targets, and that the two countries have “incomplete” information on Iran’s military capabilities and equipment.
Chery to recommission Nissan plan for SA production
Chinese carmaker Chery says its plan to retrofit and recommission Nissan’s former plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria, with production expected to resume in mid-2027, will create some 3,000 jobs. Chery, which sells about 50,000 cars a year in South Africa, outbid Chinese rival GWM for the Rosslyn plant, which became available with Nissan scaling back some of its operations as part of worldwide cost-cutting measures.
Venezuela acting president welcomes US lifting sanctions
Venezuela’s interim President – and former President Nicolas Maduro ally – Delcy Rodriguez has welcomed Washington’s announcement that it is lifting sanctions against her as “a step in the direction of normalising and strengthening relations between our countries.” She is quoted as saying: “We trust that this progress will allow for the lifting of the sanctions currently in place on our country, enabling the building and guaranteeing of an effective bilateral cooperation agenda for the benefit of our peoples.”
Sources: Business Day, BBC, Reuters.