Britain sources at least half its jet fuel from the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz, which normally handles about 20% of global oil flows, has been effectively closed or heavily disrupted by Iranian actions in response to strikes.

This has halted most tanker traffic.

• The last known Middle East-origin jet fuel shipment to the UK is due to arrive within ~48 hours (around early April 2026, based on the article’s timing).
• No further UK-bound cargoes from the region are currently visible on shipping data.
• A recent Nigerian cargo arrived at Milford Haven, and the UK continues drawing from other sources (India, USA, Netherlands, etc.), but Middle East reliance + reduced domestic refining + no Russian imports since 2022 has left supplies tight.

Price shocks already hitting:

• Jet fuel: US index up 72% in one month; now ~$4.24/gallon (was $2.50 pre-strikes).
• UK pump prices: Diesel 182.8p/litre (up 40p since late February); petrol 152.8p/litre (up 20p). Filling a typical 55-litre family car now costs over £100 for the first time since December 2022.
• Energy bills: Expected to rise £288 in July (and possibly more in October).

Airline and travel impactAviation analyst Alex Macheras warns of a “serious jet fuel shortage … less than a week away” at some European hubs, with airlines being told to prepare for “no-fuel available here” scenarios.

Airlines are already reacting:

• Fares rising (e.g. New York–London +177% in a week; various carriers adding surcharges).
• Some cancellations (SAS axed 1,000 April flights).
• Low-cost carriers expected to be hit hardest.

The government is holding an emergency COBRA meeting today and insists people should book summer holidays as normal.

Bloomberg, FT and Telegraph confirm the last Middle East tanker arrives this week and Europe has enough jet fuel for April, but May onward looks riskier if the Strait stays closed.

No widespread flight cancellations announced yet in the UK, but prices and possible localised shortages are the immediate concerns.

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Fury as ‘blustering anchorman’ Pete Hegseth mocks the ‘big, bad Royal Navy’ in latest US blast at Britain in Iran war row – after Trump told UK to ‘go get your own oil’

US war secretary Pete Hegseth was today branded a ‘blustering anchorman’ as he sparked a backlash by mocking the ‘big, bad Royal Navy’. The Daily Mail Online has the story.

In the latest American blast at Britain over the Iran war, the former Fox News host demanded the UK and other countries ‘step up’ to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

In response to US and Israeli attacks, which began at the end of last month, Iran has effectively closed the crucial sea passage and sent global fuel prices soaring.

Mr Hegseth suggested it was ‘not just the US Navy’ who should be responsible for  getting tankers moving through the waterway again, as he backed up earlier comments by Donald Trump.

In a vicious social media post, the US President dramatically washed his hands of the Middle East crisis and told Keir Starmer to ‘go get your own oil’ as Europe’s supplies dry up.

Mr Trump added he had done ‘the hard part’ by launching the war on Iran, insisting countries like the UK would have to reopen the blocked Strait.

Britain’s last known shipment of jet fuel from the Middle East is due to arrive within 48 hours amid alarm over shortages within a week.

The consignment on the Libyan-flagged Maetiga vessel is expected to reach the UK from Saudi Arabia on Thursday, according to data providers Kpler and Vortexa. No other tankers bound for the UK have made it through the Strait.

As the UK gets to grips with a third major global crisis in six years:

• Mr Trump is swinging between threatening widespread destruction of Iran’s energy resources and hinting he could just end the bombing campaign;
• Nigel Farage said it is a ‘mug’s game’ trying to guess what Mr Trump is aiming for in the Middle East;
• Extra UK troops are being sent to the Middle East to help the UK’s allies defend their skies from Iranian attacks; 
• Rachel Reeves is believed to be getting £20million a day in extra revenue as a result of higher energy prices; 
• Official figures show UK household disposable incomes fell between the end of 2024 and the end of 2025, even before the war erupted;
• In the latest sign of the risk to shipping a Kuwaiti oil tanker was attacked off the coast of Dubai; 
• Israel has invaded southern Lebanon to push out Iran-backed Hezbollah militants;
• Buckingham Palace confirmed the King and Queen will carry out a state visit to the US next month, despite Mr Trump’s frequent attacks on Britain.

Read the full story here.