Washington: Donald Trump again took aim at Australia for not assisting him with the war against Iran, as the price of oil surges amid fears that the conflict and closure of the Strait of Hormuz may continue for weeks. Describing Iranian negotiators as both “great” and “strange”, the US president said it was Tehran – not him – that was desperate for an off-ramp, while suggesting an agreement to end the war may not be possible. “They are begging to make a deal, not me,” he said. “I don’t know if we’ll be able to do that. I don’t know if we’re willing to do that. They should have done that four weeks ago … The reason they want to make a deal is they have been just beat to shit.” Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed the US had shared a 15-point “action list” with Iran via Pakistani mediators that could serve as the basis of a peace plan. Witkoff said there were “strong signs” that Iran could be convinced that it was at an “inflection point” with no desirable alternatives.…