In The Spotlight
President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on May 1, 2026. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
U.S. President signals doubts over Tehran’s 14-point framework, citing unresolved grievances as tensions rooted in decades-long conflict remain central to negotiations
A file image of a Patriot missile launcher at the Ovda air force base, north of the Israeli city of Eilat, on Nov. 8, 2017. (Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images)
The USS Abraham Lincoln conducts blockade operations in the Arabian Sea on April 16, 2026. (U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on March 26, 2026. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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U.S. Tightens Iran Blockade as Hegseth Warns of Global Expansion
President Donald Trump walks off Air Force One as he arrives at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 17, 2026. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Strait of Hormuz Reopens Amid Ceasefire, Trump Maintains Naval Pressure on Iran
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) sails in the Arabian Sea during Operation Epic Fury, on March 18, 2026. (U.S. Navy)
Damage is visible to a residential building that, according to Iranian authorities, was hit by a strike on March 4 during the U.S.-Israeli military campaign in southeastern Tehran, Iran, on April 14, 2026. (Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)
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President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on May 1, 2026. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
U.S. President signals doubts over Tehran’s 14-point framework, citing unresolved grievances as tensions rooted in decades-long conflict remain central to negotiations
A file image of a Patriot missile launcher at the Ovda air force base, north of the Israeli city of Eilat, on Nov. 8, 2017. (Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump administration bypasses Congress to approve major weapons deals for key regional allies as conflict with Iran enters ninth week
The USS Abraham Lincoln conducts blockade operations in the Arabian Sea on April 16, 2026. (U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
U.S. President rejects Tehran’s proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz in exchange for sanctions relief, insisting pressure will continue until nuclear demands are met
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on March 26, 2026. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
U.S. President claims Tehran signaled internal breakdown and requested swift access to key waterway as Washington maintains pressure amid fragile ceasefire
U.S. Tightens Iran Blockade as Hegseth Warns of Global Expansion
Pentagon officials detail ship seizures, escalating enforcement in the Strait of Hormuz, and confirm renewed U.S.–Iran talks set to resume in Pakistan
President Donald Trump walks off Air Force One as he arrives at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 17, 2026. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Tehran signals reversal of brief reopening amid U.S. blockade, raising fresh uncertainty over fragile ceasefire and ongoing nuclear negotiations
Strait of Hormuz Reopens Amid Ceasefire, Trump Maintains Naval Pressure on Iran
U.S. President confirms vital shipping lane is operational during Israel–Lebanon truce while enforcing continued blockade on Iranian ports pending final agreement
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) sails in the Arabian Sea during Operation Epic Fury, on March 18, 2026. (U.S. Navy)
New enforcement rules allow American forces to board, search, and detain suspected Iranian-linked ships worldwide, raising risks of escalation and retaliation across key maritime routes
Damage is visible to a residential building that, according to Iranian authorities, was hit by a strike on March 4 during the U.S.-Israeli military campaign in southeastern Tehran, Iran, on April 14, 2026. (Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)
Tehran warns of sweeping maritime retaliation if Washington maintains port restrictions, while cease-fire uncertainty and sanctions pressure intensify diplomatic tensions
Fishermen work in front of oil tankers south of the Strait of Hormuz Jan. 19, 2012. Kamran Jebreili/AP Photo
Shipping activity plunges as American forces enforce restrictions on vessels linked to Iran, raising global concerns over energy flows and maritime security
U.S. Orders Naval Blockade of Strait of Hormuz After Iran Talks Collapse
Trump announces sweeping maritime crackdown targeting Iranian-linked shipping as tensions escalate and global energy concerns intensify following failed negotiations
Trump Rebukes Iran Over Strait of Hormuz Conduct Amid Cease-Fire Tensions
U.S. president warns Tehran over alleged shipping restrictions and fees as global energy flows falter and diplomatic talks loom
![Markets Rattle Amid U.S. Ultimatum to Iran, Raising Fears of Prolonged Supply Disruptions and Higher Global Fuel Costs Brent crude oil futures opened higher late Sunday compared to Thursday’s close, breaking through the $111 per barrel level amid concerns that the conflict involving Iran could worsen in the coming week. On March 31, oil prices reached a weekly high of over $119 per barrel. Prices then dropped sharply to around $98 on Wednesday before rebounding to more than $109 on Thursday. Markets were closed on Easter Friday. Late Sunday saw oil peak at $111.89, with prices at $110.73 as of 9:50 p.m. ET. The renewed surge in oil prices follows the approaching deadline of an ultimatum issued by President Donald Trump to Iran, set to expire on Monday. Trump had previously stated that if Iran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz—a critical shipping route south of the country through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply passes—by April 6, U.S. forces could target Iranian infrastructure. In an April 5 post on Truth Social, Trump warned, “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” In a separate post, Trump added, “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time,” indicating a potential deadline for Iranian compliance. Iran has rejected these threats. According to a statement published April 5 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps via state-run PressTV, the country warned that further attacks on civilian facilities would lead to a more intense and expansive phase of retaliation. On Sunday, Trump also said he had not ruled out deploying U.S. ground forces into Iran if the Strait is not reopened in time. One bridge in Iran has already been destroyed by the United States. The newly completed B1 bridge, linking Tehran to Karaj, was severed in a U.S. strike on April 2. A U.S. official previously told The Epoch Times the strike aimed to disrupt “a planned military supply route for sustaining Iran’s ballistic missile and attack drone force.” Iran condemned the attack as a strike on civilian infrastructure. Escalating tensions have unsettled oil markets, driving prices higher as investors closely monitor how the situation develops throughout the week. However, analysts at ING Bank cautioned in an April 2 note that reopening the Strait of Hormuz may not immediately stabilize markets. “Even if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz resumes, a return to pre-war market conditions is likely to be slow, as upstream production restarts, logistics normalization, and inventory rebuilding will take time,” ING said. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, warned in an April 4 post on X that gasoline prices in the United States could continue to rise. “Attacks on refining capacity are likely to take longer to restore than the Strait and risk higher fuel prices globally for longer. Coupled with Ukraine attacks on Russian refineries, this summer could see very elevated prices compared to early year expectations,” De Haan said. On March 31, the national average price for regular gasoline in the United States exceeded $4 per gallon for the first time since August 2022. As of April 5, the average stood at $4.11 per gallon, up from $3.25 a month earlier, according to data from the American Automobile Association. Prices surpassed $5 per gallon in four states: Nevada, Washington, Hawaii, and California. Meanwhile, the OPEC+ alliance agreed Sunday to increase oil production quotas by 206,000 barrels per day starting next month. According to an April 5 statement, the decision was made by members including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman. “The countries will continue to closely monitor and assess market conditions,” the group said. A separate OPEC+ committee, also meeting Sunday, expressed concern over Iran’s strikes on key energy infrastructure, noting the high costs and time required for repairs, which could further disrupt supply. “Accordingly, [the committee] stressed that any actions undermining energy supply security, whether through attacks on infrastructure or disruption of international maritime routes, increase market volatility and weaken the collective efforts under the [Declaration of Cooperation] to support market stability for the benefit of producers, consumers, and the global economy,” the committee said in its statement.](/images/ECONOMIC_WARFARE/Anh%20man%20hinh%202026-04-06%20luc%2016.56.54.png#joomlaImage://local-images/ECONOMIC_WARFARE/Anh man hinh 2026-04-06 luc 16.56.54.png?width=918&height=517 "Markets Rattle Amid U.S. Ultimatum to Iran, Raising Fears of Prolonged Supply Disruptions and Higher Global Fuel Costs Brent crude oil futures opened higher late Sunday compared to Thursday’s close, breaking through the $111 per barrel level amid concerns that the conflict involving Iran could worsen in the coming week. On March 31, oil prices reached a weekly high of over $119 per barrel. Prices then dropped sharply to around $98 on Wednesday before rebounding to more than $109 on Thursday. Markets were closed on Easter Friday. Late Sunday saw oil peak at $111.89, with prices at $110.73 as of 9:50 p.m. ET. The renewed surge in oil prices follows the approaching deadline of an ultimatum issued by President Donald Trump to Iran, set to expire on Monday. Trump had previously stated that if Iran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz—a critical shipping route south of the country through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply passes—by April 6, U.S. forces could target Iranian infrastructure. In an April 5 post on Truth Social, Trump warned, “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” In a separate post, Trump added, “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time,” indicating a potential deadline for Iranian compliance. Iran has rejected these threats. According to a statement published April 5 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps via state-run PressTV, the country warned that further attacks on civilian facilities would lead to a more intense and expansive phase of retaliation. On Sunday, Trump also said he had not ruled out deploying U.S. ground forces into Iran if the Strait is not reopened in time. One bridge in Iran has already been destroyed by the United States. The newly completed B1 bridge, linking Tehran to Karaj, was severed in a U.S. strike on April 2. A U.S. official previously told The Epoch Times the strike aimed to disrupt “a planned military supply route for sustaining Iran’s ballistic missile and attack drone force.” Iran condemned the attack as a strike on civilian infrastructure. Escalating tensions have unsettled oil markets, driving prices higher as investors closely monitor how the situation develops throughout the week. However, analysts at ING Bank cautioned in an April 2 note that reopening the Strait of Hormuz may not immediately stabilize markets. “Even if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz resumes, a return to pre-war market conditions is likely to be slow, as upstream production restarts, logistics normalization, and inventory rebuilding will take time,” ING said. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, warned in an April 4 post on X that gasoline prices in the United States could continue to rise. “Attacks on refining capacity are likely to take longer to restore than the Strait and risk higher fuel prices globally for longer. Coupled with Ukraine attacks on Russian refineries, this summer could see very elevated prices compared to early year expectations,” De Haan said. On March 31, the national average price for regular gasoline in the United States exceeded $4 per gallon for the first time since August 2022. As of April 5, the average stood at $4.11 per gallon, up from $3.25 a month earlier, according to data from the American Automobile Association. Prices surpassed $5 per gallon in four states: Nevada, Washington, Hawaii, and California. Meanwhile, the OPEC+ alliance agreed Sunday to increase oil production quotas by 206,000 barrels per day starting next month. According to an April 5 statement, the decision was made by members including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman. “The countries will continue to closely monitor and assess market conditions,” the group said. A separate OPEC+ committee, also meeting Sunday, expressed concern over Iran’s strikes on key energy infrastructure, noting the high costs and time required for repairs, which could further disrupt supply. “Accordingly, [the committee] stressed that any actions undermining energy supply security, whether through attacks on infrastructure or disruption of international maritime routes, increase market volatility and weaken the collective efforts under the [Declaration of Cooperation] to support market stability for the benefit of producers, consumers, and the global economy,” the committee said in its statement.")
Markets Rattle Amid U.S. Ultimatum to Iran, Raising Fears of Prolonged Supply Disruptions and Higher Global Fuel Costs Brent crude oil futures opened higher late Sunday compared to Thursday’s close, breaking through the $111 per barrel level amid concerns that the conflict involving Iran could worsen in the coming week. On March 31, oil prices reached a weekly high of over $119 per barrel. Prices then dropped sharply to around $98 on Wednesday before rebounding to more than $109 on Thursday. Markets were closed on Easter Friday. Late Sunday saw oil peak at $111.89, with prices at $110.73 as of 9:50 p.m. ET. The renewed surge in oil prices follows the approaching deadline of an ultimatum issued by President Donald Trump to Iran, set to expire on Monday. Trump had previously stated that if Iran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz—a critical shipping route south of the country through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply passes—by April 6, U.S. forces could target Iranian infrastructure. In an April 5 post on Truth Social, Trump warned, “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” In a separate post, Trump added, “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time,” indicating a potential deadline for Iranian compliance. Iran has rejected these threats. According to a statement published April 5 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps via state-run PressTV, the country warned that further attacks on civilian facilities would lead to a more intense and expansive phase of retaliation. On Sunday, Trump also said he had not ruled out deploying U.S. ground forces into Iran if the Strait is not reopened in time. One bridge in Iran has already been destroyed by the United States. The newly completed B1 bridge, linking Tehran to Karaj, was severed in a U.S. strike on April 2. A U.S. official previously told The Epoch Times the strike aimed to disrupt “a planned military supply route for sustaining Iran’s ballistic missile and attack drone force.” Iran condemned the attack as a strike on civilian infrastructure. Escalating tensions have unsettled oil markets, driving prices higher as investors closely monitor how the situation develops throughout the week. However, analysts at ING Bank cautioned in an April 2 note that reopening the Strait of Hormuz may not immediately stabilize markets. “Even if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz resumes, a return to pre-war market conditions is likely to be slow, as upstream production restarts, logistics normalization, and inventory rebuilding will take time,” ING said. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, warned in an April 4 post on X that gasoline prices in the United States could continue to rise. “Attacks on refining capacity are likely to take longer to restore than the Strait and risk higher fuel prices globally for longer. Coupled with Ukraine attacks on Russian refineries, this summer could see very elevated prices compared to early year expectations,” De Haan said. On March 31, the national average price for regular gasoline in the United States exceeded $4 per gallon for the first time since August 2022. As of April 5, the average stood at $4.11 per gallon, up from $3.25 a month earlier, according to data from the American Automobile Association. Prices surpassed $5 per gallon in four states: Nevada, Washington, Hawaii, and California. Meanwhile, the OPEC+ alliance agreed Sunday to increase oil production quotas by 206,000 barrels per day starting next month. According to an April 5 statement, the decision was made by members including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman. “The countries will continue to closely monitor and assess market conditions,” the group said. A separate OPEC+ committee, also meeting Sunday, expressed concern over Iran’s strikes on key energy infrastructure, noting the high costs and time required for repairs, which could further disrupt supply. “Accordingly, [the committee] stressed that any actions undermining energy supply security, whether through attacks on infrastructure or disruption of international maritime routes, increase market volatility and weaken the collective efforts under the [Declaration of Cooperation] to support market stability for the benefit of producers, consumers, and the global economy,” the committee said in its statement.
Markets Rattle Amid U.S. Ultimatum to Iran, Raising Fears of Prolonged Supply Disruptions and Higher Global Fuel Costs
A satellite image shows Qeshm Island at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, on Aug. 23, 2000. (NASA/Public Domain/CC0)
Tehran declares strategic waterway will not return to previous status, warning of strict control and limited access under a so-called “new global order”
U.S. Raises Alarm Over China’s Detention of Panama-Flagged Ships
Rubio warns Beijing may be using economic pressure to challenge Panama’s legal sovereignty following court ruling on key port concessions
Smoke rises from an oil warehouse on the outskirts of Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan Region, following a suspected drone strike on April 1, 2026. Gailan Haji / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images
Markets rattled by renewed military threats as investors brace for prolonged supply disruptions and fading hopes of swift diplomatic resolution
A technician works at an Amazon Web Services AI data center in New Carlisle, Ind., on Oct. 2, 2025. Noah Berger for AWS/Reuters
Tehran signals expanded retaliation targeting major American companies in the Middle East while tensions with the United States and Israel intensify
Iran Lacks Resources to Sustain One Million Troops for Potential U.S. Landing
Despite rhetoric of mass mobilization, defense budget constraints and modern warfare costs make maintaining a million-strong force beyond Tehran’s financial and logistical capacity
