Tehran assures Dhaka of Hormuz fuel passage

Bangladesh has received assurances from Iran regarding the safe passage of fuel shipments amid rising concerns over global oil supply disruptions.

Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi said on Friday that Iran is prepared to ensure the safe movement of Bangladeshi oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz despite continuing tensions in the Middle East.

“I understand that Bangladesh is currently facing an energy challenge.

In light of this, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the Energy Minister, Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, have requested the Iranian government to allow Bangladeshi oil tankers to pass through the strait,” the ambassador said.

He added that he had spoken with officials in Tehran and that they had indicated their willingness to facilitate the safe passage of such vessels.

“If there are tankers ready to transport fuel, they will be allowed to pass safely so that the people of Bangladesh do not face hardship,” he told reporters after an event in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, Iran’s new and largely reclusive leader issued his first public remarks on Thursday, pledging to continue the country’s resistance and warning that the conflict could expand to additional fronts.

The ongoing war has already affected global energy markets, the wider economy and international travel, according to reports.

Early on Friday, US President Donald Trump posted a strongly worded message online directed at Iran, claiming that significant damage had already been inflicted on the country and its leadership.

The comments came as Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israeli military actions were creating conditions that could encourage internal change within Iran.

Addressing the Iranian public at a news conference, he said the future of the country ultimately lay in their hands.

According to reports by the BBC, Iran intends to maintain its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil shipping routes.

A statement attributed to Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, was broadcast on state television, although he did not appear in person and the message was read by a newsreader.

In the statement, Khamenei said Iran would seek retribution for those killed during the conflict with the United States and Israel, and warned neighbouring countries against hosting American military bases.

He assumed the role of Supreme Leader on 8 March following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the start of the conflict.

Ambassador Jahanabadi defended Iran’s position, saying the country did not wish to see the conflict spread across the region but could not remain passive while facing attacks originating from US bases in neighbouring states.

According to information provided to the US Congress in a Pentagon briefing earlier this week, the first week of the war with Iran cost the United States about $11.3 billion.

The estimate was disclosed by a person familiar with the private meeting who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The US military alone spent roughly $5 billion on munitions during the first weekend of the conflict.

As the war entered its 13th day, tensions continued to mount.

Oil prices rose sharply, reaching about $100 per barrel, while stock markets around the world declined amid fears that the conflict could continue for longer than expected.

In an effort to ease pressure on global oil prices, the US Treasury Department announced a partial easing of sanctions on Russian oil.

A temporary licence has been issued permitting the delivery and sale of certain Russian crude oil and petroleum products for the next month.

Earlier in the week, the Trump administration also signalled that further measures could be taken to address constraints on oil supply.

The latest move follows a decision to grant India temporary permission to purchase Russian oil.

The exemption applies only to Russian oil that is already at sea. Analysts estimate that around 125 million barrels are currently being transported by tankers.

By comparison, roughly 20 million barrels of oil normally pass through the Strait of Hormuz each day, according to the International Energy Agency.