Fuel crisis: Macron chairs emergency summit with G7 leaders

“As time goes on, the picture is becoming clearer: the attacker underwent a process of Islamist radicalisation. The intention was to crash the aeroplane with its passengers on board. We are investigating whether he was sent by anyone, and whoever sent him will pay a very high price.” This was stated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a video released by his office. Yesterday, the Omani co-pilot who attacked the captain was transferred to Dubai. This allows Israeli investigators to collaborate more closely on the investigation, given the good relations with the Emirates.

“An urgent appeal to Israelis abroad: come home and help save our democracy”: is the headline of today’s editorial published by the Israeli daily Haaretz, which emphasises the importance of the elections on 27 October “after four years of far-right government that has sown destruction and caused damage of unspeakable proportions”.

Haaretz warns of the “catastrophe that would befall Israel if the current government were to secure another term”, arguing that “a new government led by Benjamin Netanyahu would trample on what remains of Israeli democracy and the liberal sphere, turning the oversight bodies and the judiciary into loyal servants of those in power” and “would provoke an international boycott against Israel, ultimately excluding the country from the family of democratic nations”.

It is the British Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, formerly the Energy Secretary, who is representing the United Kingdom at the G7 video summit convened as a matter of urgency by Emmanuel Macron, on behalf of the French rotating presidency, to address the global energy crisis fuelled in particular by the war in the Middle East (a result of the attacks on Iran by the US and Israel in recent months): this comes against the backdrop of the Donald Trump administration’s criticism of Europe’s failure to contribute to increasing the availability of diesel reserves and the threat of a ban on fuel exports to the EU from across the Atlantic. Miliband – as reported by Downing Street and the Foreign Office – was delegated by Labour Party leader Andy Burnham, who was absent from the call as he was attending his father Roy’s funeral this afternoon: Roy died in September at the age of 86 at a care home for elderly people with Alzheimer’s near Liverpool.

Further reading

Diesel: if Trump bans US exports, 10 per cent of Europe’s supply will be at risk

25 September 2026

French President Emmanuel Macron will chair a video conference with the leaders of the G7 countries today at 2.30 pm, focusing on the global energy situation. The announcement was made by the Élysée Palace.

The airline FlyDubai has announced the suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv, in Israel, until 15 October, following the attempted attack on one of its flights on Wednesday. This was reported by Ynet.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi has called on Iran to respond “constructively” to efforts to restore freedom and safety of navigation on major shipping routes, as signs emerge of a possible resumption of negotiations between Tehran and Washington. During a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Motegi emphasised the importance of ensuring the safe passage of ships through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

The Japanese minister also stated that the future of the Strait of Hormuz – which was effectively blocked by US and Israeli attacks on Iran at the end of February – should be discussed with the entire international community.

An oil tanker was struck by an “unidentified projectile” whilst passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. This was reported by the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO), which is part of the British Armed Forces, explaining that it had received the report from a third party. The UKMTO added that the attack caused a fire and that the crew are safe. The oil tanker has not been identified and no group has yet claimed responsibility, but Iranian forces regularly open fire on ships passing through the Strait to maintain control over this crucial waterway. The Strait of Hormuz has been virtually closed since the start of the war with Iran on 28 February. Before the war, which began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran, around a fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas passed through this waterway.

Donald Trump “might” ask Europe to release its diesel reserves in order to ease tensions in the supply chain and bring rising prices under control. “We might do that. They have diesel stocks,” Trump told journalists during a trip to Texas for the mid-term election campaign, shortly after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in a post on X, had urged Europe to tap into its reserves “immediately”.

The Pentagon has awarded Raytheon a $24.4 billion contract to ramp up production of SM-6 missiles, as part of efforts to replenish the vast quantities of ammunition used in the war in Iran. These missiles are “essential munitions for air defence and combat against surface targets”: the five-year agreement, “which includes an option for a further two years, will enable production to be ramped up”, according to a statement. The agreement “provides the defence industry with the long-term predictability needed to strengthen workforce capacity and ensure the security of critical supply chains”.

The Pentagon is sending a third strike group to the Middle East, centred on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, along with additional ships from the Marine Corps: According to the Wall Street Journal, the move will see an additional contingent of between 9,000 and 10,000 personnel arrive in the region, just as President Donald Trump is considering the possibility of resuming attacks against Iran following the mid-term elections. The ships, fighter jets, Marines and Navy personnel are due to arrive in the area by the end of November, according to officials speaking on condition of anonymity.

Donald Trump has stated that Iran is “ready to give in” and that the matter “will be resolved very quickly”. Speaking in Denton, Texas, at the Peterbilt Motors factory during a campaign event ahead of the mid-term elections, the US president said he believed the United States would win the war “immediately after the elections”, whilst adding that this could happen “perhaps even before the elections”. “I will ensure that the Iranian issue is resolved very quickly,” said the tycoon, adding that energy prices would fall “very, very quickly”. Trump said that the US is “trying to be polite” towards the current Iranian leader. “To be honest, we don’t know who on earth we’re dealing with. Nobody wants to be president,” he said

In recent weeks, the US armed forces have deployed two further Patriot missile batteries to protect oil and gas facilities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. This is reported by Axios, citing two US officials and a source in the region. The US move aims to reassure both allies that their strategic energy infrastructure is protected, should President Donald Trump decide to resume major combat operations against Iran. Yesterday, Trump stated that he was considering the possibility of resuming a bombing campaign in the coming weeks. “I now have to make a decision: either Iran signs the deal, or it will cease to exist,” he said.

Chinese refineries have suspended exports of petroleum products to destinations outside Hong Kong and Macao for the month of October, pending further guidance from Beijing. This is according to the Reuters website, which cites four people familiar with the matter. The decision comes as Beijing seeks to preserve domestic stocks. China had restricted fuel exports in March, after the war with Iran disrupted crude oil supplies from the Middle East, before easing the restrictions in July and managing shipments on a monthly basis. It is unclear whether Beijing will authorise the resumption of exports after the national holiday ends on 7 October. According to sources cited by the Reuters website, the decision may depend on the level of domestic stocks and refinery output. The state-owned company PetroChina cancelled on Wednesday a number of consignments of petrol and aviation fuel scheduled for October, whilst Zhejiang Petrochemical has not scheduled any shipments of petroleum products during the holiday week. In September, China exported around 1.4 million tonnes of diesel, 500,000 tonnes of petrol and at least 2 million tonnes of jet fuel, including shipments to Hong Kong and Macao. The main destinations include Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Vietnam, Bangladesh and the Philippines.