Foreign Minister Winston Peters has emerged from crisis talks with US Senator Marco Rubio, urging the United States to dispatch fuel tankers to the Pacific region in a bid to alleviate the crippling economic pressure caused by the rapidly escalating conflict with Iran. The high-stakes meeting, which took place in Wellington, New Zealand, saw Peters make an impassioned plea to Rubio to secure vital fuel supplies for the region, warning that failure to act would have devastating consequences for New Zealand and its Pacific neighbours. According to sources close to the negotiations, Peters stressed the significant economic impacts of the crisis on New Zealand and the Pacific, highlighting the dire need for emergency fuel shipments to prevent widespread shortages and maintain critical supply chains. The New Zealand government has long been concerned about the potential fallout from the Iran conflict, which has already seen global oil prices soar to record highs. While details of the discussions remain sketchy, it is understood that Rubio pledged to take Peters' concerns back to the US administration, with a view to securing a swift response to the crisis. The US Senator, a prominent hardliner on Iran policy, has been a vocal supporter of President Trump's tough stance on Tehran, but it remains to be seen whether his intervention will be enough to persuade the White House to take decisive action. The call for US fuel aid comes as New Zealand and its Pacific neighbours struggle to cope with the economic fallout from the Iran crisis. With global oil prices showing no signs of abating, the situation is becoming increasingly dire, with widespread fuel shortages and price hikes threatening to destabilise markets and undermine economic stability. In a statement released after the talks, Peters said: 'We have made it clear to the US that the economic impacts of this crisis on New Zealand and the Pacific are significant and must be addressed urgently. We urge the US to take immediate action to dispatch fuel tankers to the region, to help alleviate the pressure and prevent further economic hardship.' The situation remains fluid, with the international community holding its breath as the Iran conflict continues to escalate. As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: the fate of the Pacific region hangs in the balance, and the clock is ticking.