US pier constructed off Gaza broken apart

The temporary pier constructed by the US military to transport aid into Gaza broke apart and sustained damage in heavy seas on Tuesday in a major blow to the US-led effort to create a maritime corridor for humanitarian supplies into the war-torn enclave, the Pentagon said.

The pier was damaged and sections of the pier need rebuilding and repairing, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said on Tuesday. The pier will be removed from its location on the Gaza coast over the next 48 hours and taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod, where US Central Command will carry out repairs, Singh said. The repairs will take more than a week, further delaying the effort to get the maritime corridor fully operating.

Part of the pier, which consists of a narrow causeway to drive aid into Gaza and a wider parking area to drop off supplies transported by ship, had disconnected on Sunday, the officials said. The parking area will have to be reconnected to the causeway before the pier can be used again.

The damage, first reported by NBC News, occurred three days after heavy seas forced two small US Army vessels to beach in Israel, according to US Central Command, while another two vessels broke free of their moorings and were anchored near the pier.

“I believe most of our soldiers were able to remain on the vessels and still are currently on them,” Singh said during Tuesday’s Pentagon press briefing. “And ... within the next 24 or 48 hours, the Israeli Navy will be helping push those vessels back and hopefully they’ll be fully operational by then.”

The pier, which cost US$320 million, had only begun operating on May 17 when heavy seas forced the maritime shipments to stop one week later on May 24, two days before part of the pier disconnected. It is unclear when shipments will resume.

The temporary pier, called the Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS), requires very good sea conditions to operate. CNN reported previously that JLOTS can only be operated safely in a maximum of 3-foot waves and winds less than approximately 15 miles per hour.

Heavier sea conditions delayed the deployment of the pier for several weeks, as the system sat docked in the Israeli port of Ashdod waiting for favorable conditions.

The US has stressed that the temporary pier is only meant to augment humanitarian shipments going through the land crossings between Israel and Gaza.

On Thursday, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of US Central Command, said 820 metric tons of aid had been delivered through the pier to the Gaza beach, where the United Nations was responsible for distributing it to the Palestinian population. The Pentagon said Thursday that more than 1,000 metric tons of aid had been delivered before the temporary pier had to halt operations.

Daniel Dieckhaus, the director of USAID’s Levant Response Management Team, told reporters Thursday that there were “thousands and thousands of tons” of aid waiting in Cyprus to be delivered through the maritime corridor. But those shipments are now paused with the temporary pier inoperable

Iran: Finding Ebrahim Raisi Replacement

The next president of Iran is likely to be a hardliner unwaveringly loyal to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with a background in the Revolutionary Guards. It has to be someone with an unblemished background and devoid of political rivalries.

It is believed that Khamenei, Iran's ageing ultimate decision maker, seeks a fiercely loyal president in the June 28 election to run the country day-to-day and be a trusted ally who can ensure stability, amid manoeuvring over the eventual succession to his own position.

Registration for candidates opens on Thursday, although that is only the beginning of a process that will see hopefuls vetted by the Guardian Council, a hardline watchdog body that disqualifies candidates without always publicizing the reason.

The primary goal seems to be securing the election of a president who is intensely loyal to the supreme leader and his ideals. The victory of a hardline president is aimed shaping a smooth transition at the pinnacle of power, nevertheless presents a conundrum for the ruling clerics managing the vote next month.

To ensure the winner is a diehard Khamenei loyalist, it is likely the upcoming election will be dominated by hardliners.

The west fears that restricting the choice on the ballot is likely to dampen voters' interest and keep turnout low.

The quandary is a familiar one in Iran. In a race where those who run are carefully reviewed, typically the challenge for the clerical establishment is securing a high turnout.

The Guardian Council will publish the list of qualified candidates on June 11, 2024.

Raisi clinched victory in 2021 election on a turnout of about 49% - a significant drop from the 70% seen in 2017 and 76% in 2013.

Critics say the turnout reflected discontent over economic hardship and social and political restrictions which drove months of protests ignited by the death of a young woman arrested by the morality police in 2022.

Including low-key moderate candidates on the ballot might be a way to attract a larger turnout, some analysts say.

Currently sidelined from power, reformists remain faithful to Iran's theocratic rule but advocate improved relations with the West, and gradual moves towards more freedom of expression and a loosening of strict Islamic dress code.

Reformist former senior official Mohammad Ali Abtahi said the pro-reform camp would contest the election if its candidate was permitted to participate.

The cycle of low voter turnout, which has ensured hardliner victories in past parliament and presidential elections, can be changed.

The reformists' electoral strength remains unclear, as some voters believe they failed to bring greater freedoms in the periods when they were in power.

The 2022 protests exposed a widening breach between the reformists and demonstrators demanding regime change.

Even allowing a few known moderates to contest election might not be enough to get people to turn out. Voters have been repeatedly misled by the idea that reform-minded candidates ... would produce real change.

A new president would be unlikely to make any change to Iran's nuclear or foreign policy, both of which are controlled by the supreme leader.

The registration of candidates could include Parviz Fattah, a former Guards member who heads an investment fund linked to the leader, and Saeed Jalili, a former chief nuclear negotiator who in 2001 ran Khamenei's office for four years.

Interim President Mohammad Mokhber and former parliament speaker and a Khamenei adviser, Ali Larijani, have also been mentioned in Iranian media as possible candidates, Larijani was barred from participating in 2021 presidential race.

 

Rafah strike doesn’t cross red line, says Kirby

Since October 07, 2023 Israel has killed over 35,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children. More than 80% of the enclave has been turned into heap of debris. Infrastructure has been destroyed completely and Gazans are living in famine like situation. However, the US administration still believes that Israel has not crossed red line. Will the White House spokesperson John Kirby tell the world US definition of red line in case of Rafah?

The White House on Tuesday indicated an Israeli strike that killed dozens of Palestinians in Rafah did not cross a “red line” that would lead to a change in US policy.

Multiple administration officials in press briefings Tuesday described the images out of Rafah as “heartbreaking,” “tragic” and “horrific.” But there was no sign of an impending policy change as a result, because it was an airstrike and not a major ground operation.

“We still don’t believe that a major ground operation in Rafah is warranted. We still don’t want to see the Israelis, as we say, smash into Rafah with large units over large pieces of territory. We still believe that, and we haven’t seen that at this point,” Kirby told reporters.

“As a result of this strike on Sunday, I have no policy changes to speak to,” he added. “It just happened. The Israelis are going to investigate it. We’re going to be taking great interest in what they find in that investigation. And we’ll see where it goes from there.”

President Biden earlier this month warned he would stop supplying Israel with offensive weapons such as bombs and artillery shells if it launched a long-promised invasion of Rafah.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan last week told reporters there was “no mathematical formula” for assessing Israel’s conduct in Rafah, but officials would look at “whether there is a lot of death and destruction from this operation or if it is more precise and proportional.”

Administration officials said Tuesday that Sunday’s airstrike, which was the deadliest incident in Rafah since Israel launched an offensive there, did not amount to what the White House has warned against.

“It is still our assessment that what is happening in Rafah and what the [Israeli military] are doing, it is limited in scope,” Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the Rafah fire as tragic and said Israel is “investigating it thoroughly and will learn from it, as is our policy and longstanding conduct.”

Israeli officials reportedly told the US that shrapnel from a targeted strike on senior Hamas leaders struck a fuel tank near a displaced persons camp.

But the resulting carnage underscored international alarm over the conduct of Israel’s military operations, and it came only days after a top United Nations court issued a ruling for Israel to halt its military operations in Rafah.

 

 

 

Tanker owners await OPEC Plus announcement

OPEC Plus is scheduled to hold its next meeting on Sunday and its decisions on production strategy will have far reaching implications for the tanker owners.

According to Seatrade Maritime News, sector analysts say the picture in far from clear. In its weekly report, Gibson suggests that there could be three possible outcomes.

1- OPEC Plus members could decide to continue with the production cuts in place today.

2- They could implement further cuts, allowing oil producers outside the cartel to boost their market share.

3- They could decide to ease voluntary production cuts to meet the wishes of members hoping to boost oil revenue streams. 

OPEC Plus member states account for more than 40% of global crude tanker trade where rising oil demand in China is likely to underpin crude oil growth of 2.2 million barrels per day this year, according to the projections.

Crude demand is also climbing in other non-OECD countries, notably India, and other countries in Asia, Middle East, and Latin America, Gibson said.

However, the broker notes that few analysts are as bullish about oil demand prospects.

The International Energy Agency (IEA), for example, reckons that likely growth could reach 1.1 million barrels per day, just half the OPEC Plus estimate. The IEA reckons that demand will grow more slowly now that the post-Covid surge has come to an end.

Meanwhile, declining oil demand in Europe is likely to reduce OECD demand which, the IEA suggests, could fall by 140,000 bpd this year. This is the result of the industrial downturn and a mild winter.

Gasoil demand in all three OECD regions over the first quarter fell by 330,000 bpd year-on-year.

Gibson points to lower oil prices, with Brent crude now trading at around US$81-83 a barrel, down from an average of US $89 in April.

These lower prices may suggest a current oversupply, a factor supported by weaker demand growth. These prevailing market fundamentals may deter OPEC Plus from loosening their production cuts too soon, Gibson said.  

Iran imports 4.6 tons gold bars

ran Customs Administration (IRICA) has reported that 4.6 tons of gold worth US$330 million were cleared through customs ports and imported into the country during the first two months of the current year.

The figure is 3.8 times more than the same period last year, when 1.2 tons of gold worth US$79 million were imported into the country, IRNA reported citing figures from IRICA.

Imam Khomeini Airport Customs was the origin of over 91% of gold imports in the first two months of this year.

Late in 2022, the Iranian government approved a plan to facilitate the import of gold as part of its anti-sanctions policy, allowing businesses to import gold to settle their export-related foreign exchange dues to the government.

According to a new directive from the IRICA, imports of gold are exempt from direct taxes, until further notice.

The directive states that the import of various types of gold will continue to be exempt from value-added tax (VAT) as well.

 

Gold price on the rise

Gold prices held steady on Tuesday as the dollar eased, while investors looked forward to key US inflation data that could offer clues on how soon the Federal Reserve can cut interest rates.

Spot gold price was flat at US$2,350.85 per ounce by 0350 GMT, after rising about 1% in the previous session. US gold futures rose 0.8% to US$2,352.00.

"A very strong dollar picture supported by a change in the US monetary policy stance where the Fed starts looking for evidence to kick start interest rate hikes instead of easing could be a major risk as we could see a further corrective move in spot gold," said Kelvin Wong, a senior market analyst for Asia Pacific at OANDA.

However, in the short term, spot gold is still more skewed towards the positive side rather than the negative side and US$2,310 is a key short-term support for this week, Wong added.

The core personal consumption expenditures price index (PCE), the Fed's preferred inflation measure, is due on Friday.

Fed meeting minutes released last week showed that the policy response, for now, would involve maintaining the benchmark policy rate at its current level but also reflected discussions of possible further hikes.

Traders' bets indicated rising skepticism that the US central bank will lower rates more than once in 2024, currently pricing in about a 62% chance of a rate cut by November according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

Bullion is known as an inflation hedge, but higher rates increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold.

Vietnam's central bank will stop auctioning gold in the domestic market and launch a new measure to stabilize domestic prices, it said on Monday.

 

US Memorial Day: Remembering Cost of War

Memorial Day in the United States is traditionally a time to honor the men and women who have died in military service. However, it is crucial to use this day to acknowledge the broader and often overlooked consequences of war. We must amplify the voices that expose the true and complete cost of conflict, recommit to peace, and call for an end to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

What is the point of Memorial Day if not to remember all those who suffer in wars and to renew our commitment to peace?

It is imperative to draw the attention of US citizens to the fact that soldiers are far from the only ones who pay the ultimate sacrifice. The horrifying and unforgettable images emerging from Rafah demand our attention and compassion.

Modern wars have resulted in far more civilian casualties than military deaths. The current situation in Gaza is not merely a war; it is a genocide carried out by an apartheid state, funded and supplied by the United States.

Since the latest Israeli assault on Gaza began, more than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 15,000 children. These numbers are staggering and must not be forgotten.

We must also remember the estimated 300,000 to 500,000 Iraqi civilians who lost their lives during the US invasion and occupation that began 21 years ago.

Similarly, over 70,000 Afghans were killed during America's so-called war on terrorism. The uncounted and unknown casualties of US imperialism through the ages add to this grim toll.

The losses suffered in wars cannot be measured merely in numbers. Each life taken represents shattered dreams, unfulfilled promises, and untapped human potential. War devastates families, communities, and entire nations. But perhaps the greatest loss is our humanity, which is eroded every time we allow such violence to continue.

Three months ago, Aaron Bushnell performed an extreme act of resistance, sacrificing his life to protest the genocide in Gaza, stating that "this is what our ruling class has decided will be normal." We must reject this normalization of violence and refuse to let it become our reality.

Let this Memorial Day be a reminder of all who suffer and die in conflicts worldwide. Let it inspire us to seek peace, justice, and humanity in our actions and policies.