Europe Refuses Iran War, Trump Responds to Oil Pressure

JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump vented his anger at European countries who refused to join the war against Iran. At a time when oil prices are rising and economic pressure is increasing, Trump actually told them to find oil themselves from the Gulf region.

The Guardian, quoted Wednesday, April 1, reported that Trump publicly insulted Britain and France, two allies who did not join the war. Through Truth Social, he mocked countries that were worried about fuel supplies being disrupted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, but refused to take part in the attack on Iran. To them, Trump said to "take your own oil" from the Gulf.

Trump also stressed that keeping the Strait of Hormuz open was not America's job. "It's not our business ... it's anyone's business who uses the strait," Trump told reporters, quoted by The Guardian. In another post, he even encouraged the countries to come to the strait and "just take it".

The harsh tone came as a number of European countries began to hold back. France blocked an Israeli plane carrying military supplies across its airspace. Italy refused a sudden permit for US bombers to land in Sicily. Spain was the first to reject the use of military bases and its airspace for the war. A number of European countries also called the conflict illegal.

As reported by The Guardian, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also pressured Britain. "As far as I know, there used to be a large and formidable British Royal Navy," he said, mocking London to take a role in the waterway.

Europe's rejection is getting more firm. Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said the US and Israel cannot, without the support of allies, determine "what kind of rules or what kind of peace applies in the world". He added, "We do not accept any lectures from anyone regarding our commitment to peace."

At the same time, the economic impact of the war is increasingly felt. Still referring to The Guardian's report, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin called the oil supply shock due to the US-Israeli attack on Iran "probably the worst of all time". In the US, the average gasoline price broke through $4 per gallon for the first time in four years.

Iran signaled it wanted to end the war, but asked for guarantees that a similar conflict would not recur. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's statement had put pressure on Brent crude prices below $104 a barrel. However, the situation has not calmed down. Explosions were heard in Riyadh, Iran attacked a Kuwaiti oil tanker in the Gulf, while the US bombed Isfahan and began using B-52 bombers.

From Indonesia's point of view, what is at stake is not only the war in the Middle East, but also energy prices. The Strait of Hormuz is an important route for world oil supplies. If the region continues to heat up, the market will remain restless, oil prices will be difficult to fall, and the impact can be felt on transport costs and cost pressures in the country.