📢 🇯🇵 🛢 Japan has enough oil to last beyond this year, says PM Takaichi

Japan "has secured necessary supplies" of crude oil, Takaichi said at a news conference. She added, "Maximum efforts are being made to source oil via routes that do not pass through" the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which passes 20% of the world's oil and gas supplies and that has been effectively blocked by Iran.

Takaichi also said that procurement from alternative sources like the U.S. have risen 20% this month compared to April of last year, while in May more than half the supplies are expected to come from alternative sources. Those from the U.S., in particular, are expected to expand to roughly four times the usual level next month, she said.

"Japan has oil reserves equivalent to about eight months of supply, and as a result of progress in alternative procurement, there is now a clear outlook for maintaining petroleum supplies beyond the end of the year while limiting the release of stockpiles," she said.

Her comments come as Japan, a resource-poor nation that relies on the Middle East for over 90% of its crude imports, increasingly feels the ripple effects of the oil shock triggered by the Iran war. Analysts have warned that the surge in energy costs risks fueling broad cost-push inflation at a time when many households are already struggling with the cost of living.

https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/iran-tensions/iran-war/japan-has-enough-oil-to-last-beyond-this-year-says-pm-takaichi

https://archive.ph/ESM4M

🇺🇸 🇮🇱 🇮🇷 How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran

New reporting from NYT reveals how Trump decided to go to war with Iran — after a closed-door Israeli pitch and despite deep internal divisions inside his own team. | DropSite News

At a secret Feb. 11 Situation Room meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented a four-part pitch for regime change, including a video montage of potential replacement leaders such as Reza Pahlavi. JD Vance was absent, stuck in Azerbaijan.

Appearing alongside Mossad chief David Barnea and military officials, Netanyahu argued: Iran’s ballistic missile program could be destroyed in weeks. The regime would be too weak to close the Strait of Hormuz. Street protests — fomented with Mossad help — could trigger an uprising. Kurdish fighters from Iraq could open a ground front in the northwest.

Trump’s response: “Sounds good to me.”

The next day, U.S. intelligence pushed back sharply. CIA Director John Ratcliffe called the regime-change scenario “farcical,” with Secretary of State Marco Rubio adding: “In other words, it’s bullshit.” Gen. Dan Caine told the president: “This is, in my experience, standard operating procedure for the Israelis. They oversell, and their plans are not always well-developed.”

Trump dismissed regime change as “their problem” — but remained focused on targeting Iran’s leadership and military.

By Feb. 26, in a final Situation Room meeting, opposition inside the room was clear but fractured. Vice President JD Vance warned the war could spiral and drain U.S. resources, but ultimately said: “You know I think this is a bad idea… but I’ll support you.”

Rubio said regime change was unrealistic, but destroying Iran’s missile program was achievable. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was the biggest proponent of war and backed immediate action. Military leadership outlined risks, including depleted munitions and the threat to Hormuz, but all stopped short of opposing the plan.

Key officials responsible for managing the fallout, like the Treasury Secretary, and DNI Gabbard were notably absent.

Trump went around the table asking advisors their view, then made the call:

“I think we need to do it.”

The strikes began two days later.

📎 Nytimes

✝️ 🇪🇸 🇮🇱 On Easter Sunday, an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was burned at a "Burning of Judas" ritual in Malaga, Spain.

📎 Les Spectateurs

🇻🇦 🇺🇸 🇮🇷 President of the US Bishops, Archbishop Paul Coakley, has called on US President Donald Trump to 'step back from the precipice of war and negotiate a just settlement for the sake of peace and before more lives are lost'

He added 'The threat of destroying a whole civilization and the intentional targeting of civilian infrastructure cannot be morally justified'

📎 Catholic Arena

🇻🇦 🇺🇸 🇮🇷 Pope Leo XIV on Trump’s warning to Iran of “civilization” destruction —

“This is truly not acceptable. Here there are certainly questions of international law, but even more than this a question of morality for the good of people.”

He adds the war is “continuing to escalate and is not resolving anything… is only provoking more hatred throughout the world.”

“attacks on civilian infrastructure are against international law, but it is also against sign of the hatred and division that we are capable of.”

📎 Michael Haynes

📢 🇺🇸 🇮🇷 Trump tells NBC that it’s ‘totally illegal’ for Iran to have young people surround power plants as human shields, adding that "They’re not allowed to do that"

Trump also said, "you'll have to figure out that" when asked about his "a whole civilisation will die tonight" comment

📎 Faytuks News

🇺🇸 🇮🇷 🇵🇰 President Trump speaks to Fox News just minutes after Pakistan's request for a two-week extension on the US' 8 PM ET deadline.

Details include:

1. Trump refuses to comment on ongoing negotiations saying, “I can’t tell you, we’re in heated negotiations"

2. Trump declines to address Pakistan’s request for a 2-week extension

3. The White House confirmed Trump is aware of the proposal and said a response is coming soon

📎 KobeissiLetter