U.S. presses G7 on Iran war
The U.S. is lobbying G7 allies to back its campaign in Iran as Secretary of State Marco Rubio heads to France — diplomats are trying to shore up European support amid soaring fuel costs. Washington is also reinforcing its posture on the ground, sending at least 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne to the Middle East, while reportedly delivering a 15‑point peace proposal to Iran via Pakistan as leaders seek an economic off‑ramp to rising costs. (npr.org) (apnews.com) (nytimes.com)
The State Department’s travel notice says Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend the G7 Foreign Affairs Ministerial in Cernay‑la‑Ville on March 27 as part of an expanded meeting taking place at the Vaux‑de‑Cernay abbey March 25–27. (state.gov) European capitals have publicly pushed back: EU and several G7 governments have signaled reluctance to join U.S. combat plans and have criticized the lack of prior consultation with transatlantic partners. (bloomberg.com) U.S. force posture is shifting beyond earlier public statements: reporting that elements of the 82nd Airborne’s Immediate Response Force — including two battalions and the division commander, Maj. Gen. Brandon Tegtmeier — have been ordered toward the region would expand the available ground options. (stripes.com) Multiple outlets say Washington also moved a formal, 15‑point framework to Tehran through Pakistani intermediaries, with Pakistan’s army chief emerging as the principal interlocutor; the document reportedly covers ballistic missiles, Iran’s nuclear program and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz while leaving unclear how widely it has been circulated in Tehran or whether Israel has signed on. (nytimes.com) Markets have already priced in the disruption: the U.S. EIA notes Brent rose from about $71/b on Feb. 27 to $94/b by March 9, while later market reporting put Brent nearer $110–$113/ b as shipments through the Strait of Hormuz fell; U.S. retail pump prices have topped $5/gallon and diesel has jumped above $6/gallon in some states. (eia.gov) Ministers at the G7 meeting will be asked to coordinate economic and security steps, but officials say the bloc’s unity is fragile — the G7 joint statements list Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K., the U.S. and the EU high representative as participants even as policy divisions remain evident. (canada.ca)
