Second week of a war seen more than ever as a massive gamble by the US and Israel: the hitting of oil installations in Tehran prompting retaliation across the Gulf. Also blown away, claims that disruptions to global energy security would be a passing blip.
As the price of crude shoots past 100 dollars a barrel, Tehran signals it’s staying the course with Mojtaba Khamenei, the hardline son of the assassinated Supreme Leader chosen to take the reins of an under siege Islamic Republic that’s still got the means to make neighbors pay a price for Trump and Netanyahu's war.
Take Lebanon where rocket attacks by Iran proxy Hezbollah drew a deluge of fire, a ground incursion by Israel, and the displacement of nearly 700-thousand. We'll talk about the Lebanese president who wants direct talks with Israel and weigh ten days of destruction of lives and livelihoods.
To the price at the pump, Europe arguably will feel the effect more sharply than a US that’s further off and largely energy self-sufficient. Good luck glossing that over when France hosts the next G-Seven summit in June.
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Patrice PAOLI Former French Ambassador to Lebanon
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Borzou DARAGAHI International Correspondent, The Independent
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Negar MORTAZAVI Journalist
English (US) · 