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According to the Financial Times, diplomats say Russia has benefited from rising oil prices, a suspension of US sanctions, and the rapid depletion of US ammunition needed by Kyiv.

According to the Financial Times, four EU diplomats involved in the Ukraine talks said the Middle East conflict has diverted Washington's attention from a peace agreement.

On the 14th local time, Argentina's Ministry of Energy announced an increase in the country's withholding tax rate on oil exports. According to the Ministry, the withholding tax rate on conventional oil exports from Chubut, Santa Cruz, Mendoza, and Neuquén provinces will rise from 3.36% to 8%.

According to Iran's Tasnim News Agency, 20 people have been arrested in northwestern Iran for providing information on military locations to Israel.

March 15th - According to NHK, following Trump's expression of hope that Japan would join the US in maintaining the "openness and security" of the Strait of Hormuz, a senior official stated that any decision to send Japanese warships to the Middle East for escort missions would face a "very high hurdle." Liberal Democratic Party policy research chief Takayuki Kobayashi, responding to Trump's call to send warships to the Middle East, said that while the law does not completely rule out this possibility, given the ongoing conflict, it is an issue that requires careful judgment. Japan's economy is heavily reliant on oil imports from the Middle East. However, Japan has yet to make a clear statement on the war with Iran. When asked about this in parliament last week, Sanae Takaichi stated that there are currently no plans to send minesweepers to help clear mines around the Strait, at least until the end of the US-Israel-Iran war. Kobayashi stated on a Sunday program that, given Trump's tendency to change his tune, Takaichi should use her personal relationship with Trump to ascertain his true intentions.

According to NHK, Liberal Democratic Party policy research chief Takayuki Kobayashi responded to Trump's call to send warships to the Middle East, saying that while the law does not completely rule out this possibility, given the ongoing conflict, it is an issue that requires careful consideration.

The Israeli military has detected a missile launched from Iran toward the Negev.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard: The 10 drones intercepted by Saudi Arabia are not related to Iran; the Saudi government should investigate the source of the attack.

Israel Defense Forces: Following a situation assessment, it has been announced that people in protected areas across the country are now free to leave.

March 15 - According to US media reports, US President Trump said on the 14th that reaching an agreement with Ukrainian President Zelensky in efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict would be "much more difficult."

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a targeted strike on Tehran, the Iranian capital, killing two senior Iranian intelligence officials.

The CEO of energy developer Glenfarne Group stated that a purchase agreement for 3 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) still needs to be signed before a final investment decision can be made on the Alaska LNG project.

Goldman Sachs expects upcoming Eurozone data (up to the time of the Iranian conflict) to be broadly in line with the ECB's December staff forecasts. However, the surge in energy prices following the conflict poses a significant risk to the economic outlook.

Financial blog Zero Hedge: How severe is the disconnect between the VIX fear index and overall volatility? The VIX index is currently only one-third of the level it was on "Liberation Day" (April 2, 2025) (supported by the expected capital expenditure of the "Big Seven" US stocks), while overall market volatility is comparable to that during the April 2025 crash.

Goldman Sachs expects Israel's overall CPI to remain unchanged in February, with a year-on-year figure of 1.8% (market consensus: 1.9%), with core inflation and fuel inflation expected to decline, while housing and food inflation are expected to rise.

White House spokesperson: Strategic petroleum reserves will be replenished once the war with Iran ends.

Goldman Sachs: Russia's inflation rate fell in February, getting closer to the 4% target. The Russian central bank is expected to cut its policy rate by 50 basis points to 15.00% (market consensus: 15.00%) next Friday, continuing its rate-cutting cycle.

March 15th - According to the Joint Internet Rumor-Refuting Platform, to deepen the work of debunking online rumors involving enterprises and continuously optimize the online business environment, the Cyberspace Administration of China's Illegal and Harmful Information Reporting Center has launched a special section for debunking online rumors involving enterprises on the Joint Internet Rumor-Refuting Platform, effective immediately. The section features carefully selected authoritative debunking information on enterprises from national industry regulatory authorities and major central news organizations, and may also include debunking information submitted by provincial-level online rumor-refuting platforms and pilot enterprises of the "Direct Contact Points for Debunking Online Rumors Involving Enterprises." Initially, the section will be updated regularly every week, with important information released promptly, helping the public quickly obtain the truth and effectively curb the spread of rumors.