Trump tells officials to prepare extended Iran blockade and blasts German chancellor: Doesnt know what hes talking about! - Live updates

In a post to Truth Social, Trump last night said German chancellor Friedrich Merz 'doesn’t know what he’s talking about' when it comes to Iran.

He wrote: 'The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about! If Iran had a Nuclear Weapon, the whole World would be held hostage.

'I am doing something with Iran, right now, that other Nations, or Presidents, should have done long ago. No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise!'

Donald Trump has told his team to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran in order to drain the regime's coffers.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the US president believes that hurting Tehran's wallet will weaken its leverage in negotiations, forcing it to submit to the US' demands.

US officials told the newspaper that the blockade is crushing Iran's economy, as the regime struggles to store the surplus of unsold oil it has.

Kazakhstan's energy ministry said on Wednesday the Central Asian country was not considering leaving OPEC+, a day after the United Arab Emirates said it would leave the oil producers' group amid an energy crisis caused by the Iran war.

European farming, food and retail associations on Tuesday called for the EU agri-food chain to be formally recognised as critical infrastructure, urging policymakers to grant operators priority access to energy and key inputs at affordable and competitive rates.

'Middle East instability is increasing volatility in energy, logistics and input markets vital to Europe's food production and distribution', CEJA, Copa-Cogeca, CELCAA, FoodDrinkEurope and EuroCommerce said

The groups said costs for energy, fertilisers, freight, packaging and agricultural raw materials are already rising across the value chain, risking higher grocery prices and weaker food affordability without urgent EU action.

The associations urged EU and national authorities to guarantee farmers, processors, traders, retailers and wholesalers secure and predictable access to energy and key inputs.

They said targeted, temporary and EU-coordinated measures may be needed for the most exposed actors.