{"id":2151640,"date":"2026-09-18T17:27:52","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T14:27:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2151640"},"modified":"2026-09-18T17:27:52","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T14:27:52","slug":"irish-finance-minister-says-hormuz-closure-not-ukraine-causing-energy-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2151640","title":{"rendered":"Irish Finance Minister says Hormuz closure, not Ukraine, causing energy crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/76\/14\/1200x675_cmsv2_ad7c9a3c-8082-5c90-a735-83a433e8317e-9917614.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2926909-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2926909\" data-cid=\"9919488\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926909-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/94\/88\/189x106_cmsv2_44bccbdd-3cc5-5e4b-a553-d27ec3a91454-9919488.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A first responder operates a fire hose after a Russian attack on an industrial zone near Korosten, Zhytomyr Oblast. 18 September 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Russia launches fresh attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926889-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2926889\" data-cid=\"9919468\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926889-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/94\/68\/189x106_cmsv2_2bd7d02b-a798-50b7-8818-b2c3867e53f3-9919468.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Latest news bulletin | September 18th, 2026 \u2013 Evening\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Top News Stories Today<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Latest news bulletin | September 18th, 2026 \u2013 Evening\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926877-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2926877\" data-cid=\"9919347\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926877-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/93\/47\/189x106_cmsv2_98c8928d-e8df-5443-90fe-c8ecbe8d9b9f-9919347.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Red Cross members arrive at Banga National High School in the town of Banga, Philippines. 18 September 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Philippines<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Three dead in Philippines school shooting\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926858-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2926858\" data-cid=\"9919145\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926858-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/91\/45\/189x106_cmsv2_0152864d-08c1-56e4-8c25-2fa2ebc2478f-9919145.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Romanian Prime Minister designate and European Parliament member Siegfried Muresan leaves surrounded by media after a press conference. 18 September 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Three parties to attempt to form new Romanian government\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926909-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2926909\" data-cid=\"9919488\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926909-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/94\/88\/189x106_cmsv2_44bccbdd-3cc5-5e4b-a553-d27ec3a91454-9919488.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A first responder operates a fire hose after a Russian attack on an industrial zone near Korosten, Zhytomyr Oblast. 18 September 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Russia launches fresh attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926889-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2926889\" data-cid=\"9919468\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926889-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/94\/68\/189x106_cmsv2_2bd7d02b-a798-50b7-8818-b2c3867e53f3-9919468.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Latest news bulletin | September 18th, 2026 \u2013 Evening\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Top News Stories Today<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Latest news bulletin | September 18th, 2026 \u2013 Evening\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926877-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2926877\" data-cid=\"9919347\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926877-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/93\/47\/189x106_cmsv2_98c8928d-e8df-5443-90fe-c8ecbe8d9b9f-9919347.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Red Cross members arrive at Banga National High School in the town of Banga, Philippines. 18 September 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Philippines<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Three dead in Philippines school shooting\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926858-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2926858\" data-cid=\"9919145\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926858-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/91\/45\/189x106_cmsv2_0152864d-08c1-56e4-8c25-2fa2ebc2478f-9919145.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Romanian Prime Minister designate and European Parliament member Siegfried Muresan leaves surrounded by media after a press conference. 18 September 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Three parties to attempt to form new Romanian government\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          My Europe Series<\/p>\n<p>                          12 minutes with<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Irish Finance Minister says Hormuz closure, not Ukraine, causing energy crisis<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-controller=\"video-player\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"js-playercontrols u-height-full u-position-absolute u-width-full is-autoplaying\" data-translations=\"{&quot;error&quot;:&quot;This video could not be played.&quot;,&quot;geoblocked&quot;:&quot;Sorry, this content is not available in your country&quot;,&quot;slow&quot;:&quot;This is taking longer than usual&quot;}\">\n<div class=\"js-loadtrigger js-loadtrigger__button c-loadtrigger__button\" role=\"status\"><span class=\"js-loadtrigger__label c-loadtrigger__label u-visually-hidden\">Loading the video<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/76\/14\/1536x864_cmsv2_ad7c9a3c-8082-5c90-a735-83a433e8317e-9917614.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Simon Harris, T\u00e1naiste of Ireland, during a Euronews interview in Dublin on 18 September, 2026. \"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Simon Harris, T\u00e1naiste of Ireland, during a Euronews interview in Dublin on 18 September, 2026.<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Euronews <\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Euronews\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspLauren Walker&amp;nbsp&amp;&amp;nbspShona Murray\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1789752472\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-09-18 19:27:52 +02:00\">18\/09\/2026 &#8211; 19:27 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div 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width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed_container u-display-none\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed__tooltip\"><br \/>\n                            Copy\/paste the article video embed link below:<br \/>\n                        <\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed u-display-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-copy-to-clipboard.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Copy to clipboard\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-share-comment-copy\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed--success-copied u-display-none js-c-article-share-comment-video-embed-success-link-copied\"><br \/>\n                                Copied<br \/>\n                            <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        The Irish Finance Minister hit back against claims made by the US that Ukraine is causing the global energy crisis, saying de-escalation in the Middle East is the only solution.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Trump&#8217;s war with Iran are causes behind the turmoil in the energy markets, not Ukraine&#8217;s attacks on Russian diesel refineries. That is the message Irish Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister (T\u00e1naiste), Simon Harris, shared with Euronews in an exclusive interview <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Harris pushed back against recent remarks made by US President Donald Trump, who blamed Ukraine&#8217;s strikes on Russian diesel refineries for creating a shortage. Oil prices are hovering around $108 per barrel.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The reason there&#8217;s a major energy crisis in the world right now is because the Strait of Hormuz is closed,&#8221; Harris said on Euronews&#8217; interview programme 12 Minutes With. &#8220;I always make the point, and I would make it again today, that the greatest economic intervention we could see is de-escalation in the Middle East,&#8221; he added. <\/p>\n<p>He noted that this became evident during the summer, when there was a brief moment of respite in the conflict. &#8220;We saw a very rapid fall in the commodity markets and therefore a benefit at the pump.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil and gas facilities are squeezing Moscow\u2019s oil output and having an impact globally, as Russia is one of the world\u2019s largest oil producers, but experts agree the current energy crisis is primarily caused by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz \u2013 the transit route for 20% of the world&#8217;s oil and gas supplies.<\/p>\n<p>The situation has escalated after Saudi Arabia shut its East-West pipeline, also known as Petroline, following drone attacks earlier this month from Iran-backed allied Houthis and Iraq.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;From an economic perspective, I&#8217;m very concerned [after] what we&#8217;ve seen on oil markets in recent days,&#8221; Harris said. &#8220;I&#8217;m also very concerned about the fact that we aren&#8217;t seeing de-escalation; we&#8217;re actually seeing an escalation and indeed more fronts in terms of complications opening up regarding energy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>Windfall tax on the table<\/h2>\n<p>It is against the backdrop of mounting energy costs that finance ministers from eurozone countries gathered in Dublin on Friday, rushing to mitigate the rising prices and discussing measures to mitigate the impact on citizens.<\/p>\n<p>One of the ideas circulating among EU ministers at the meeting is a windfall tax for firms profiting from energy price volatility, following calls from several member states to consider this measure.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Some energy companies are making extraordinarily large profits on the back of this energy crisis,&#8221; Harris said, noting that they are not doing so by &#8220;being innovative,&#8221; but &#8220;because of the chaos that we&#8217;re seeing in the energy markets as a result of the Strait of Hormuz being closed.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Without pre-empting possible outcomes of the talks, Harris said he would be having an initial conversation on such a tax with ministers in Dublin. Ireland currently holds the rotating EU Council presidency, allowing it to set the work programme and Council meeting agenda.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s likely that we will ask the European Commission to further examine this and that we would formally discuss it in Brussels at the next formal [Economic and Finance Council] meeting in October.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>World &#8216;cannot become numb to loss of life&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>Harris stressed that, aside from the economic importance of ending the Middle East conflict, the world can not turn a blind eye to the human toll either.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think while I&#8217;m obviously speaking in the capacity of a finance minister, we should never become numb to the loss of life in war, whether that&#8217;s the loss of life in Ukraine, whether it&#8217;s the horrific genocide we&#8217;ve seen in Gaza, whether it&#8217;s a situation in the Middle East more broadly,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We need to see a de-escalation of conflict more broadly in the world.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>On settler violence seen in the West Bank against Palestinians, the T\u00e1naiste argued in favour of a tougher stance on Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m massively pro-European, but I think when it comes to Gaza, it&#8217;s been disappointing, to put it mildly, that more hasn&#8217;t been done at that coordinated level,&#8221; Harris said. <\/p>\n<p>Several European countries, including Ireland and more recently the United Kingdom, have announced national bans on the import of all goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Member states are listening to their public and are moving ahead, but we would always rather see action at an EU level because we think it&#8217;s more impactful.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The EU\u2019s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, recently put forward an EU-wide ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements as a &#8220;principled stance&#8221; for the bloc, comparing illegal settlements in the West Bank to Russia\u2019s occupation of Crimea.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  EU-Canada relationship is &#8216;not hostile to anybody&#8217;, Harris says<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Energy crunch and inflationary fears loom over EU finance talks<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Ukraine ready for energy ceasefire but Russia is yet to agree, Zelenskyy says<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Mark Carney<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Donald Trump<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Canada<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Ireland<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tp-vuukle\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__header\"><span class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__title\">Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2926834-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926834\" data-cid=\"9919161\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926834-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/89\/98\/320x180_cmsv2_94c8bf3a-febc-5116-8a2d-57e0bb844a4f-9918998.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"(Thomas Samson\/Pool photo via AP)\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Macron to convene G7 on energy with warning about Russia<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2926733-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926733\" data-cid=\"9918469\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926733-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/84\/69\/320x180_cmsv2_0cddeee6-107d-521d-9d20-f270e83605ad-9918469.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaking with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Vilnius, Lithuania, 12 July 2023. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Canberra responds to Metsola\u2019s EU &#8216;associate membership&#8217; suggestion<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2926909-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926909\" data-cid=\"9919488\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926909-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/94\/88\/320x180_cmsv2_44bccbdd-3cc5-5e4b-a553-d27ec3a91454-9919488.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A first responder operates a fire hose after a Russian attack on an industrial zone near Korosten, Zhytomyr Oblast. 18 September 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Russia launches fresh attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2926815-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926815\" data-cid=\"9918916\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926815-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/89\/16\/320x180_cmsv2_e6c85b0a-7f25-5670-9de0-0ed110a967ec-9918916.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Poland&apos;s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, right, is welcomed to the first C8 summit by Ukraine&apos;s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena Zelenska.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Zelenskyy launches &#8216;Carpathian Eight&#8217; alliance to boost investment<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2926822-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926822\" data-cid=\"9918947\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926822-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/89\/47\/320x180_cmsv2_e7dff1fa-ac83-540c-bbdb-c417d3e3187e-9918947.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mark Carney.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Canada seeks to join 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qa-section-title\">Most read<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__list\">\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2925664-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2925664\" data-cid=\"9913223\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    For how many years do Europeans receive a pension?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2926602-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926602\" data-cid=\"9917925\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Cloudburst in 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loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaking with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Vilnius, Lithuania, 12 July 2023. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Canberra responds to Metsola\u2019s EU &#8216;associate membership&#8217; suggestion<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926909-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926909\" data-cid=\"9919488\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926909-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/94\/88\/320x180_cmsv2_44bccbdd-3cc5-5e4b-a553-d27ec3a91454-9919488.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A first responder operates a fire hose after a Russian attack on an industrial zone near Korosten, Zhytomyr Oblast. 18 September 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Russia launches fresh attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926815-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926815\" data-cid=\"9918916\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2926815-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/89\/16\/320x180_cmsv2_e6c85b0a-7f25-5670-9de0-0ed110a967ec-9918916.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Poland&apos;s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, right, is welcomed to the first C8 summit by Ukraine&apos;s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and 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m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926733\" data-cid=\"9918469\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Canberra responds to Metsola\u2019s EU &#8216;associate membership&#8217; suggestion<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926598-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926598\" data-cid=\"9918014\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Tusk: intelligence sees Russian plan for drone strikes on Poland, allies<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926526-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926526\" data-cid=\"9917489\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Germany turns on Brussels as Chinese car sales on track to exceed 1m<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Trump&#8217;s war with Iran are causes behind the turmoil in the energy markets, not Ukraine&#8217;s attacks on Russian diesel refineries. That is the message Irish Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister (T\u00e1naiste), Simon Harris, shared with Euronews in an exclusive interviewHarris pushed back against recent remarks made by US President Donald Trump, who blamed Ukraine&#8217;s strikes on Russian diesel refineries for creating a shortage. Oil prices are hovering around $108 per barrel.&#8221;The reason there&#8217;s a major energy crisis in the world right now is because the Strait of Hormuz is closed,&#8221; Harris said on Euronews&#8217; interview programme 12 Minutes With. &#8220;I always make the point, and I would make it again today, that the greatest economic intervention we could see is de-escalation in the Middle East,&#8221; he added.He noted that this became evident during the summer, when there was a brief moment of respite in the conflict. &#8220;We saw a very rapid fall in the commodity markets and therefore a benefit at the pump.&#8221;Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil and gas facilities are squeezing Moscow\u2019s oil output and having an impact globally, as Russia is one of the world\u2019s largest oil producers, but experts agree the current energy crisis is primarily caused by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz \u2013 the transit route for 20% of the world&#8217;s oil and gas supplies.The situation has escalated after Saudi Arabia shut its East-West pipeline, also known as Petroline, following drone attacks earlier this month from Iran-backed allied Houthis and Iraq.&#8221;From an economic perspective, I&#8217;m very concerned [after] what we&#8217;ve seen on oil markets in recent days,&#8221; Harris said. &#8220;I&#8217;m also very concerned about the fact that we aren&#8217;t seeing de-escalation; we&#8217;re actually seeing an escalation and indeed more fronts in terms of complications opening up regarding energy.&#8221;Windfall tax on the tableIt is against the backdrop of mounting energy costs that finance ministers from eurozone countries gathered in Dublin on Friday, rushing to mitigate the rising prices and discussing measures to mitigate the impact on citizens.One of the ideas circulating among EU ministers at the meeting is a windfall tax for firms profiting from energy price volatility, following calls from several member states to consider this measure.&#8221;Some energy companies are making extraordinarily large profits on the back of this energy crisis,&#8221; Harris said, noting that they are not doing so by &#8220;being innovative,&#8221; but &#8220;because of the chaos that we&#8217;re seeing in the energy markets as a result of the Strait of Hormuz being closed.&#8221;Without pre-empting possible outcomes of the talks, Harris said he would be having an initial conversation on such a tax with ministers in Dublin. Ireland currently holds the rotating EU Council presidency, allowing it to set the work programme and Council meeting agenda.&#8221;It&#8217;s likely that we will ask the European Commission to further examine this and that we would formally discuss it in Brussels at the next formal [Economic and Finance Council] meeting in October.&#8221;World &#8216;cannot become numb to loss of life&#8217;Harris stressed that, aside from the economic importance of ending the Middle East conflict, the world can not turn a blind eye to the human toll either.&#8221;I think while I&#8217;m obviously speaking in the capacity of a finance minister, we should never become numb to the loss of life in war, whether that&#8217;s the loss of life in Ukraine, whether it&#8217;s the horrific genocide we&#8217;ve seen in Gaza, whether it&#8217;s a situation in the Middle East more broadly,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We need to see a de-escalation of conflict more broadly in the world.&#8221;On settler violence seen in the West Bank against Palestinians, the T\u00e1naiste argued in favour of a tougher stance on Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law.&#8221;I&#8217;m massively pro-European, but I think when it comes to Gaza, it&#8217;s been disappointing, to put it mildly, that more hasn&#8217;t been done at that coordinated level,&#8221; Harris said.Several European countries, including Ireland and more recently the United Kingdom, have announced national bans on the import of all goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.&#8221;Member states are listening to their public and are moving ahead, but we would always rather see action at an EU level because we think it&#8217;s more impactful.&#8221;The EU\u2019s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, recently put forward an EU-wide ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements as a &#8220;principled stance&#8221; for the bloc, comparing illegal settlements in the West Bank to Russia\u2019s occupation of Crimea.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/09\/18\/irish-finance-minister-says-hormuz-closure-not-ukraine-causing-energy-crisis&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/91\/76\/14\/1200x675_cmsv2_ad7c9a3c-8082-5c90-a735-83a433e8317e-9917614.jpg&#8221;] Europe News Russia launches fresh attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv Top News Stories Today Latest news bulletin | September 18th, 2026 \u2013 Evening Philippines Three dead in Philippines school shooting Europe News Three parties to attempt to form new Romanian government Europe News Russia launches fresh attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv Top [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2151640","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2151640","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2151640"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2151640\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2151640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2151640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2151640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}