{"id":360725,"date":"2026-03-23T10:18:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T10:18:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/360725\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T10:18:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T10:18:08","slug":"iran-warns-it-will-mine-the-strait-of-hormuz-if-attacks-persist-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/360725\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran warns it will mine the Strait of Hormuz if attacks persist \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Main PointsDonald Trump <\/a>threatened on Sunday that Iran had 48 hours to open the Strait of Hormuz to all traffic<\/a> to avoid strikes that would \u201chit and obliterate\u201d Iranian power plantsIran<\/a> said it would retaliate to any attack on its electricity by \u200ctargeting Israel\u2019s power plants The crisis surrounding Iran\u2019s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz<\/a> has created a global economic crisis, causing surging energy prices Share markets slid in early trade while US bond yields hit eight-month peaks as the US-Israel attacks on Iran showed no sign of endingKey ReadsStarmer plays down Iranian threat to UK <\/p>\n

British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said there is \u201cno assessment\u201d that the UK is being targeted by Iran.<\/p>\n

It comes after the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Saturday that Iran now has \u201cmissiles that can reach London, Paris or Berlin\u201d. An Iranian missile would need to travel about 4,000 kilometres to reach London.<\/p>\n

The claim, shared on X, came after reports that Iran had unsuccessfully fired ballistic missiles<\/a> at the Diego Garcia US-UK military base, which is about 3,750 kilometres from Iran\u2019s southern coast.<\/p>\n

Asked whether the UK was within range range of Iranian missiles, following the attempted Diego Garcia attack, Starmer says the government carries out assessments \u201call the time in order to keep us safe, and there\u2019s no assessment that we\u2019re being targeted in that way at all\u201d.<\/p>\n

UAE resumes some natural gas production <\/p>\n

The United Arab Emirates resumed operations at its largest natural gas processing plant, after an attack last week had forced a halt to the facility that\u2019s vital for supplying much of the country\u2019s requirements, according to a person familiar with the situation.<\/p>\n

At the same time, the nation\u2019s only operating LNG production plant at Das Island in the Persian Gulf is operating at very low levels due to the inability to export via the Strait of Hormuz, according to the person, who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive information. <\/p>\n

The 6 million-ton-a-year facility hasn\u2019t been fully halted to allow for a quick restart whenever the strait reopens, the person said, without providing details on the plant\u2019s operating rate.<\/p>\n

\"FirefightersFirefighters at the scene in Highfield Road, Golders Green, London, after an apparent arson attack on four ambulances belonging to the Jewish Community Ambulance service in London. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the incident is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime. Picture date: Monday March 23, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady\/PA Wire Global shares continue to slide downwards <\/p>\n

Global shares slid on Monday while US bond yields hit eight-month peaks as the US and Iran traded \u200cescalating threats and Israel planned for \u201cweeks\u201d more fighting, sending oil prices on another roller-coaster ride.<\/p>\n

The 48 hour deadline set by US president Donal Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz ends at 11.44pm night. <\/p>\n

Iran on Sunday said it would strike the energy and water systems of its Gulf neighbours if Trump followed \u200bthrough with a threat to hit Iran\u2019s electricity grid within 48 hours, extinguishing any hope of an early end to the war, now in its fourth week.<\/p>\n

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) broadest index of global stocks ticked \u200b0.6 per cent lower on Monday, adding to over 7.4 per cent of losses for the month.<\/p>\n

Japan\u2019s benchmark Nikkei fell 3.5 per cent and nerves finally hit China, where blue chips headed for their heaviest beating since US tariffs hit markets last year.<\/p>\n

European \u2060shares opened lower, falling to a four-month low, led by the defense sector, as a spike in crude prices prompted investors to factor in potential inflation \u200cpressures with \u200cthe \u200bMiddle East conflict intensifying. The pan-European stocks index was last down 1.75 per cent.<\/p>\n

S&P 500 futures slipped 0.6 per cent, while Nasdaq futures lost 0.7 per cent<\/p>\n

Oil prices were again choppy with Brent last up 0.8 per cent at $113.20 a barrel, more than 55 per cent higher for the month so far. U.S. crude \u2060gained 0.9 per cent to $99.15.<\/p>\n

Near-term supplies have been aided by the US allowing Iranian \u200band Russian oil to be sold from tankers, but the growing risk of longer-term \u200bshortages was lifting futures down the curve. September Brent, for instance, was up $2 at $93.90, suggesting high prices were here to stay.<\/p>\n

BREAKING \ud83d\udd34\ud83d\udd34<\/p>\n

An IRGC terror group in the UK, called Ashab al-Yamin takes responsibility for torching 4 ambulances belonging to a Jewish volunteer EMT services in Golders Green, London last night. <\/p>\n

The terrorists are on the loose.<\/p>\n

The UK is dealing with a serious problem. pic.twitter.com\/z728w4R17d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

European stocks slumped, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Index on course for a correction from its February record high, as the conflict in the Middle East escalated.<\/p>\n

The Stoxx Europe 600 was down 1.5 per cent by 8.21am in London, leaving it more than 11 per cent below its February peak and in technical correction. <\/p>\n

The Stoxx Europe 600 is an aggregate of 90 per cent of stocks from Europe\u2019s biggest companies. <\/p>\n

Sectors retreated across the board, with industrials and mining shares among the biggest laggards.<\/p>\n

The region\u2019s shares fell after Iran carried out fresh strikes across the Persian Gulf hours before US President Donald Trump\u2019s deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz expires.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrump\u2019s ultimatum is aggravating the situation and is clearly being reflected in equity markets,\u201d said Aneeka Gupta, director of macro-economic research at Wisdomtree – Bloomberg. <\/p>\n

Dutch authorities have foiled a planned attack on a synagogue in Heemstede, where multiple explosive devices were discovered in close proximity to the site.<\/p>\n

This attempted attack comes amid a wave of recent incidents targeting Jewish institutions in the Netherlands and across\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/8U5u0QCSAr<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 European Jewish Congress (@eurojewcong) March 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Iran threat marks major escalation in crisis <\/p>\n

The Middle East<\/a> energy wars are on the cusp of a dangerous escalation, with potentially catastrophic consequence, Mark Weiss writes from Jerusalem. <\/p>\n

Iran<\/a> has responded to president Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s 48-hour ultimatum to open the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping with a series of counter threats.<\/p>\n

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps<\/a> (IRGC) said that should the US strike, the strategic waterway would not be reopened \u201cuntil our destroyed power plants are rebuilt\u201d. If energy facilities are targeted, companies with US shares will be \u201ccompletely destroyed\u201d and energy assets in countries that \u200chost American bases will be \u201clawful\u201d targets for Iranian strikes, the IRGC said in a statement.<\/p>\n

You can read his analysis here. <\/a><\/p>\n

Ireland faces weeks more disruption to energy markets that at a minimum will be \u201cmore severe\u201d if the war in the Gulf<\/a> persists, the International Energy Agency<\/a> (IEA) has told the Government<\/a>. <\/p>\n

A paper given by the IEA\u2019s top energy economist to the State\u2019s energy affordability taskforce on Thursday said huge volumes of oil<\/a> and gas will not be produced by Gulf countries this month even assuming flows gradually resume towards the end of March.<\/p>\n

With storage filling in the Gulf and no capacity to ship oil out, or with facilities impacted by Iranian<\/a> attacks, it warned that \u201cif flows do not start to resume in late March, the impact will be more severe\u201d.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s political correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones\u2019 report <\/a><\/p>\n

This is a deeply shocking\u00a0antisemitic arson attack.\u00a0<\/p>\n

My thoughts are with the Jewish community who are waking up this morning to this horrific news.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Antisemitism has no place in our society.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Anyone with any information must come forward to the police. https:\/\/t.co\/P5J1ETaEsE<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) March 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Iran warns it will mine the Strait of Hormuz if attacks persist<\/p>\n

An attack on \u200cIran\u2019s southern coast and islands will lead to Gulf \u200croutes being cut with the laying of sea mines, the \u200bcountry\u2019s Defence Council said on Monday according to state media.<\/p>\n

The US is considering plans to occupy \u200bor blockade Iran\u2019s Kharg Island, the country\u2019s main oil \u2060export hub, to pressure Tehran to reopen \u200cthe \u200cStrait \u200bof Hormuz to all shipping, according to Axios.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny attempt to attack \u2060Iran\u2019s coasts \u200bor islands will cause all \u200baccess routes in the Gulf (…) to \u200cbe mined with various types \u200bof sea mines, including floating mines that \u2060can be released from \u2060the \u200bcoast,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn this case, the entire Gulf will practically be in a situation similar to the Strait of Hormuz for a long time (…) One should not forget the \u200cfailure of \u2060more than 100 minesweepers in the 1980s in removing a few sea mines.\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u200cDefence Council recalled that non-belligerent states can only pass \u200bthrough the Strait of Hormuz \u200bby coordinating passage with Iran – Reuters <\/p>\n

\"AA man stands near the crater the day after an Israeli airstrike targeted the Qasmiyeh Bridge, located on a main highway linking villages in the Tyre district with others farther north. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU \/ AFP via Getty Images) \/ Ukraine targets Russian oil and gas facilities <\/p>\n

While the rest of the world is focused on Iran, Ukraine has conducted massive drone attacks on Russian oil facilities overnight. <\/p>\n

Its attack on Russia\u2019s Baltic Sea port of Primorsk, one of the country\u2019s key oil export hubs, has damaged a fuel tank, according to local authorities.<\/p>\n

However, Nasa satellite imagery and social media would suggest the damage was much more extensive than that with multiple fires burning at the refinery. <\/p>\n

Air defences destroyed more than 50 drones over the region overnight, Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region, said in a Telegram post early on Monday. Efforts to repel the attack were continuing, he said.<\/p>\n

Primorsk is one of Russia\u2019s main seaborne crude export terminals. The port has previously been targeted by Ukraine, including attacks in 2025 that temporarily disrupted loadings.<\/p>\n

Ukraine has not commented on the incident so far. The country has stepped up its attacks on Russian oil and gas infrastructure since the start of the Iran war with a view to depriving Russia of revenue from surging energy prices. <\/p>\n

Four Jewish ambulances burned in suspected anti-Semitic attack in London<\/p>\n

An arson attack on four ambulances belonging to a Jewish community ambulance service in north London is being treated as an \u201canti-Semitic hate crime\u201d, the Metropolitan Police says.<\/p>\n

Four Hatzola ambulances were found on fire after the London Fire Brigade was called to Highfield Road in Golders Green at around 1.40am. <\/p>\n

Hatzola is a large non-profit, volunteer Jewish organisation that provides people emergency medical response and transportation to hospitals for free. <\/p>\n

The fire brigade said multiple cylinders in the vehicles exploded and caused windows to break in an nearby block of flats.<\/p>\n

Six fire engines and about 40 firefighters were sent to contain the blaze.<\/p>\n

Nearby houses were evacuated as a precaution, and about 30 people have been taken to a local shelter.<\/p>\n

There were no injuries, police said, and all fires have been put out. There have been no arrests so far, they added.<\/p>\n

Government cautious over the length of fuel relief<\/p>\n

A tax<\/a> rebate scheme for hauliers, a double fuel allowance<\/a> payment and a reduction in excise duty to cut fuel prices at the pumps are all expected to be agreed by the Government<\/a> on Monday, but the measures due to be announced on Tuesday will initially be in place for only a number of weeks. <\/p>\n

The Coalition will this week have to manage the public\u2019s expectations of how long they can expect such relief to last, while also being blunt that it \u201ccannot shield people from the full impact of the war\u201d, a Government source told Irish Times political correspondent Ellen Coyne. You can read her report here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"IsraeliIsraeli officials inspect an apartment building struck by an Iranian missile in Tel Aviv, Israel on Sunday. Photograph: Maya Levin\/AP British cabinet set for emergency meeting over Strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n

Keir Starmer is set to convene an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday after a call with Donald Trump to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n

In a conversation on Sunday night, the British prime minister and the US president agreed reopening the strait was \u201cessential\u201d to stabilise a global energy market that had seen oil prices rocket since Trump began his joint campaign with Israel against Iran.<\/p>\n

The 20-minute call, described by sources as \u201cconstructive\u201d, followed a week in which Trump had heavily criticised Starmer\u2019s response to the crisis amid the president\u2019s demand for other nations to send ships to open the strait.<\/p>\n

Other nations have so far resisted his demand, with the UK thought to be unlikely to send vessels because of the high level of risk in the strait and an unwillingness to be drawn into the wider war.<\/p>\n

But Tehran\u2019s unsuccessful attempt to strike the UK-US base on Diego Garcia with ballistic missiles has raised concerns that much of Europe could be within range of Iranian weapons.<\/p>\n

While the strait remains effectively closed to most shipping, the impact on the global energy market and the global economy is set to continue.<\/p>\n

Facing the threat of higher inflation and concerns about disruption to fuel supplies, Starmer will convene his top ministers at a Cobra meeting on Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Stock markets fall in early trade<\/p>\n

Share markets slid in Asia in early trade while US bond yields hit eight-month peaks as the United States and Iran traded escalating threats and \u200cIsrael planned for \u201cweeks\u201d more fighting, sending oil prices on another roller-coaster ride.<\/p>\n

Iran said on Sunday it would strike the energy and water systems of its Gulf neighbours if US president Donald Trump followed through with a threat \u200bto hit Iran\u2019s electricity grid in 48 hours, extinguishing any hope of an early end to the war, now in its fourth week. <\/p>\n

Trump warned Iran had two days to fully open the vital Strait of Hormuz, which is effectively closed for most vessels with little prospect of naval protection for shipping.<\/p>\n

Japan\u2019s Nikkei fell 3.8 per cent, bringing losses for March so far to over 13 per cent. South Korea\u2019s market shed 5.2 per cent, making a 12 per cent drop \u200bfor the month.<\/p>\n

MSCI\u2019s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan lost 2.5 per cent, while Chinese blue chips dropped 1.9 per cent. – Reuters<\/p>\n

Iran vows to retaliate if its power stations are attacked <\/p>\n

Iran will \u200cretaliate to an attack on its electricity sector by \u200ctargeting Israel\u2019s power plants as well as power plants \u200bsupplying US bases with electricity in regional countries, a statement by the Revolutionary Guards on Monday \u200bsaid.<\/p>\n

The statement seemingly retracted earlier threats to desalination plants \u2060in the region, which are crucial \u200cfor providing \u200cdrinking \u200bwater in Gulf countries.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe lying … US president has claimed \u2060that the Revolutionary \u200bGuards intends to attack \u200bthe water desalination plants and cause \u200chardship to the people \u200bof the countries in the region,\u201d the \u2060statement shared on \u2060state \u200bmedia said.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, US president Donald Trump warned that Iranian power plants would be targeted if Tehran failed to \u201cfully open\u201d the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping within \u200c48 hours.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are \u2060determined to respond to any threat at the same level as \u200cit creates in terms of deterrence … If you \u200bhit electricity, we hit electricity,\u201d \u200bthe Revolutionary Guards said. – Reuters <\/p>\n

IEA open to releasing more oil stocks <\/p>\n

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is consulting with governments in Asia and Europe on the release of more \u200bstockpiled oil \u201cif necessary\u201d due to the Iran war, executive director Fatih Birol said this morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it is necessary, of course, we will do it. We look at the conditions, we will analyse, assess the markets and discuss with our member countries,\u201d Birol told the National \u200bPress Club in Canberra.<\/p>\n

IEA member nations agreed on March 11th to release a record 400 million barrels \u2060of oil from strategic stockpiles to combat the spike in global crude prices. The drawdown represented 20 per cent of \u200coverall \u200cstocks.<\/p>\n

There \u200bwould not be a specific crude price level to trigger another release, Birol said.<\/p>\n

\u201cA stock release will help to comfort the markets, but this is not the solution. \u2060It will only help to reduce the \u200bpain in the economy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The IEA chief began his world tour \u200bin Canberra as the Asia Pacific is at the forefront of the oil crisis, he said, given its reliance \u200con oil and other crucial products such as fertiliser and \u200bhelium transiting the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n

He described the crisis \u200bin the Middle East as \u201cvery severe\u201d and worse than the two oil shocks of the 1970s, as well as the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on gas, put together.<\/p>\n

The war on Iran had taken 11 million barrels of oil per day from global supply, more than the two prior oil shocks combined.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe single most important solution to this problem is opening the Hormuz Strait,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe depth of the problem was not well appreciated by the decision makers around the world,\u201d he said of \u200chis decision to begin speaking \u2060publicly three weeks into the war. – Reuters <\/p>\n