LONDON, April 1 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said he was strongly considering pulling the United States out of NATO after allies failed to back U.S. military action against Iran, according to an interview with Britain's Daily Telegraph.

Trump described the alliance as a "paper tiger" and said removing the United States from the defence pact was now "beyond reconsideration," the newspaper reported. He said he had long held doubts about NATO's credibility.

The Philippines has sought safe passage for desperately needed oil shipments in a meeting with Iran, a presidential spokeswoman said Wednesday, as the import-dependent archipelago jockeys with other regional countries for fuel.

The price of fuel has hit historic highs in the Philippines since treaty ally the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, with Tehran effectively closing the vital Strait of Hormuz to traffic since.

A study commissioned by Greenpeace said on Wednesday that oil companies have been making more than 80 million euros a day in "war profits" in the European Union since the start of the war in the Middle East.

"If this level persists, the oil companies can expect additional operating profits of approximately 2.5 billion euros ($2.9 billion) for the month of March alone," the study said.

The study examined the difference between the price of crude oil and the price of fuel at the pump between January and February 2026, and the first three weeks of the war in March.

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:

- Hezbollah claims attacks -

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said its fighters launched drones and rockets at northern Israel on Thursday, targeting troops and a village.

The Israeli military's Home Front Command said air raid sirens were activated across the border. There were no reports of any casualties or damage.

- Israel under Iran missile fire -

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday the US-Israeli war campaign against Iran was almost complete but that the country would be hit hard over the next two to three weeks as Washington pressed toward its military objectives.

Speaking in his first national address since the war began on February 28, Trump sought to reassure war-weary Americans that the offensive was worth the effort.

"Thanks to the progress we've made, I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America's military objectives shortly, very shortly," Trump said from the White House.

Pope Leo XIV is preparing to celebrate Easter for the first time as pontiff a year after his predecessor's death, as concerns grow among Christians over the Middle East war.

Holy Week began with a clash in the Holy Land as the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Italian Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, was denied entry to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem by Israeli authorities in what he called a first "in centuries".

On Tuesday, Leo said he hoped that US President Donald Trump was "looking for an off-ramp" to end the war, as he called for an end to the violence.

Coach Graham Arnold challenged his players to "shock the world" after Iraq became the 48th and final team to qualify for the World Cup with a nerve-shredding 2-1 win over Bolivia in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico on Tuesday.

Iraq, whose preparations were disrupted by the war in the Middle East, sealed their first appearance at the finals in 40 years and will play in Group I against France, Senegal and Norway.

Goals from Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein secured a famous win for Iraq, whose last appearance at the World Cup came at Mexico in 1986.

April 1 (Reuters) - Dubai-based airline Emirates' website said on Wednesday that Iranian nationals were not allowed to enter or transit the United Arab Emirates.

The website of another carrier, Flydubai, said Iranian nationals holding a UAE "Golden Visa" were exempt and permitted to enter and transit the country.

The restrictions come amid heightened tensions between Iran and Gulf states.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Jamie Freed)

By Alasdair Pal

SYDNEY, April 1 (Reuters) - Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will deliver a rare address to the nation on Wednesday about the war in the Middle East, with media reporting he will encourage Australians to conserve fuel.

The address will be broadcast simultaneously across major television and radio networks at 7 p.m. (0800 GMT). Similar addresses were made by previous prime ministers during the COVID pandemic and the 2008 global financial crisis.

JAKARTA, April 1 (Reuters) - Indonesia has called on the United Nations to conduct an investigation into the deaths of three of its UNIFIL peacekeepers following Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, a foreign ministry official said in a statement published on Wednesday.

The ministry's U.N. representative, Umar Hadi, made the statement during an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Tuesday.

"We demand a direct investigation from the U.N., not just Israel's excuses," he said.