Melbourne, April 17: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday that a major fire that broke out at one of Australia’s two oil refineries will have a minimal impact on fuel production.

Albanese on Friday returned early from an official trip to Brunei and Malaysia to inspect the damage at Viva Energy’s refinery southwest of Melbourne after equipment failure caused a major fire on Wednesday night. The fire was extinguished around midday on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters at the refinery, Albanese said that the timing of the fire was “regrettable” amid the oil supply crisis caused by the conflict in the Middle East, but that it would have a minimal impact on production.

“The advice that we’ve received today is that 80 per cent of diesel production is continuing, 80 per cent of aviation fuel is continuing,” said Albanese, who was in Brunei and Malaysia for talks on fuel security.

Petrol production at the facility, which provides 10 per cent of Australia’s national fuel supply, was at 60 per cent of capacity on Friday and there are hopes that it can “ramp up” in the coming days, Albanese said.

He said that the government would provide its regular weekly update on fuel stockpile levels on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Authorities said on Thursday that equipment failure caused a major fire at an Australian oil refinery that is expected to affect the national fuel supply.

The fire broke out at Viva Energy’s refinery in the city of Geelong, 65 km southwest of Melbourne, around 11 p.m. local time on Wednesday and was continuing to burn on Thursday morning.

The facility is one of only two operational refineries in Australia and produces about 10 per cent of the national fuel supply.

Michelle Cowling, deputy commissioner of the fire and rescue service in the state of Victoria, told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio that equipment failure in the refinery caused the fire.

Tehran, April 16: Iran will not compromise on its nuclear enrichment rights, said the country’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, adding that its entitlement to nuclear energy is firmly grounded in international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), state media reported on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference in Tehran, Baqaei dismissed what he described as baseless speculation in Western media regarding Iran’s enrichment programme, stressing that the country’s legitimate rights, as recognised under international law, are non-negotiable, reports the country’s official news agency IRNA.

He underlined that the right to peaceful enrichment is neither a favour nor a concession granted by any external power that can be withdrawn under pressure or during times of conflict.

As long as Iran remains a signatory to the NPT, he said, it must be able to fully benefit from the treaty’s provisions.

Responding to reports about alleged enrichment-related discussions during recent Iran-US negotiations held in Pakistan, Baqaei clarified that any potential agreement must first establish a comprehensive framework. He noted that until the broader terms are settled, discussions on specifics — particularly on sensitive matters involving war and peace between Iran and the United States — would be premature.

In another part of his remarks, Baqaei rejected claims that Iran had reduced or halted its support for the Lebanese resistance. He stated that Iran has consistently backed what he termed the country’s legitimate resistance and that ending the war in Lebanon was a key component of the ceasefire understanding discussed during the Islamabad talks.

He alleged that the other side, referring to Israel, failed to honour that aspect of the ceasefire from the outset. However, Iran has remained committed to its position and continues to pursue the issue seriously in ongoing diplomatic engagements, he said.

Baqaei further explained that under any agreement, if one party violates its commitments, the other party is entitled to proportionately scale back its own obligations. He described as “completely false” any claims suggesting that Iran has neglected resistance fronts in Lebanon despite its stated commitments under the ceasefire understanding.

Commenting on a European proposal to establish a United Nations-led coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz, Baqaei said Iran, as a littoral state, along with regional partners, is fully capable of ensuring the security of the vital waterway.

He added that Iran has historically acted as a guardian of security in the Strait of Hormuz and claimed that the only disruptions witnessed in the past 40 days have stemmed from what he described as an imposed war involving the United States and Israel.

Baqaei cautioned that any foreign intervention in regional affairs would further complicate the situation. He also expressed satisfaction that several European countries have not, in his view, fallen into what he termed a trap set by the US and Israel, reports IRNA.

He reiterated that Iran, in cooperation with regional nations, can maintain stability in the Strait of Hormuz, provided that US involvement and what he described as warmongering in the region come to an end.

Washington, April 15: US President Donald Trump said a second round of direct talks with Iran could take place “over the next two days,” signalling a possible diplomatic opening even as the United States presses ahead with a naval blockade targeting Iranian-linked shipping.

In an interview with The New York Post, Trump said negotiations could happen soon and pointed to Pakistan as a possible venue. “Something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there,” he said, referring to Islamabad.

The comments came after an earlier round of talks failed to yield a breakthrough. Trump suggested initial plans had pointed to Europe before shifting towards Pakistan.

The diplomatic push comes alongside heightened tensions in the Gulf. US Central Command said that no ships from Iranian ports passed through its blockade in the first 24 hours. Six merchant vessels complied with US instructions and turned back towards Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman.

Shipping data showed a more mixed picture. Several Iran-linked vessels were tracked moving through the Strait of Hormuz after the blockade began, though some appeared to stop or change course after entering open waters.

More than 20 commercial ships not linked to Iran transited the strait in the same period, including tankers and cargo vessels. That suggests traffic through the key waterway has not been fully disrupted.

Vice President JD Vance said in Georgia that Washington is seeking a broader agreement with Tehran. He said the United States wants Iran to prosper economically, but only if it commits to not developing a nuclear weapon.

Diplomatic activity is also under way elsewhere in the region. Israel and Lebanon agreed to “launch direct negotiations” after rare face-to-face talks in Washington, in a move seen as part of wider efforts to stabilise tensions linked to the Iran conflict.

The United Nations has urged continued engagement. Secretary-General António Guterres said talks between Washington and Tehran are likely to resume and called for sustained diplomatic efforts.

Markets reacted quickly to the prospect of renewed talks. US crude futures fell nearly 8 per cent to their lowest level in weeks, reflecting hopes that tensions could ease and energy flows stabilise.

Still, uncertainty remains over the blockade and its enforcement. The Strait of Hormuz carries a significant share of global oil shipments, making it a critical chokepoint for energy markets.

The US-Iran standoff follows decades of strained relations centred on Tehran’s nuclear programme and regional role. Previous efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief have repeatedly stalled.

Any sustained disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has historically led to volatility in oil prices and raised concerns about global energy security.