Motorists feel impact at the pumps

FUEL prices rose again yesterday as UK drivers continued to feel the impact of the Middle East conflict.

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Figures from motoring group the AA showed the average price of unleaded petrol rose from 137.8p to 138.2p a litre in 24 hours. Diesel jumped from 151.2p to 152.4p. It follows a surge in oil prices since the US and Israel's attacks on Iran, and Tehran's response. After Iran chose a hardline new leader, oil prices surged to nearly $120 a barrel on Monday.

But yesterday, Brent crude had settled back down to around $92, suggesting traders expect the disruption to end soon. The US and Israel pounded Iran yesterday, with what both the Pentagon and Iranians described as the most intense airstrikes yet, despite global markets betting President Trump will call off his war soon.

Meanwhile, the Office for Budget Responsibility warned inflation could end the year close to 3 per cent with the Iran conflict driving up living costs.

IRAN has issued an assassination warning against Donald Trump and dismissed his "fire and fury" threat if the regime blocked oil supplies.

Secretary of Iran's National Security Council Ali Ardashir Larijani said: "The nation of Iran is not afraid of your empty threats. Even those greater than you could not eliminate the Iranian nation. Be careful not to be eliminated."

Larijani issued the warning after Trump said on Monday: "Death, fire and fury, if Iran blocked the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz."

The storm followed Trump hinting at an end to the conflict. But US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told Iran that yesterday would be "the most intensive day of strikes" of the war.

We can reveal that despite the US President appearing to want an end to the war, Israel has been arming up for a longer campaign.