In a sharp pivot amid stalled ceasefire efforts, President Donald Trump has canceled a high-profile diplomatic trip to Pakistan by his son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff. The envoys had been expected to engage in indirect or mediated talks aimed at resolving the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, which has disrupted global energy flows through […]
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The conflict in the Persian Gulf—sparked by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran beginning February 28, 2026—has sent shockwaves through the global food system, even though the region itself is not a major agricultural breadbasket. As detailed in Bloomberg’s April 24, 2026, analysis, the war has cut off critical sources of energy and fertilizers, essential inputs for […]
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In a stark illustration of mounting pressure on Iran’s oil sector amid the U.S. naval blockade of its ports, Tehran has reactivated a 30-year-old Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) that had been languishing in retirement off Kharg Island. The vessel, NASHA (IMO 9079107), built in 1996 and capable of holding approximately 2 million barrels of […]
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It is a wild day on the News Desk, and we saw Brent hit $105, and the market tanked. This is not going to be over very quickly, as there is a lot to unwind in the oil and gas markets and supply chains. We are seeing new proposed pipelines, and Energy Security is really […]
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In an era of geopolitical turmoil—from conflicts in the Middle East to supply chain disruptions—energy security is no longer a luxury but a strategic imperative. Countries worldwide are shifting from reliance on imported refined products to building domestic refining capacity and ramping up drilling programs. This “energy starts at home” approach not only insulates economies […]
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April 23, 2026 – Tensions in the Persian Gulf remain high as the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports enters its second week, with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reporting that American forces have now directed 31 vessels to turn around or return to Iranian ports. At the same time, the Strait of Hormuz — the […]
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In the high-stakes world of global energy markets, two prices for oil exist side by side — but they are telling wildly different stories right now. The “paper” price, reflected in Brent and WTI futures contracts traded on exchanges, sits around $99 per barrel as of April 22, 2026. Meanwhile, the physical price for delivered […]
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The global oil market is facing its most severe supply shock in years. Ongoing disruptions in the Middle East—driven by conflict and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz—have slashed exports by more than 13 million barrels per day (mb/d), triggered massive production shut-ins, and sent inventories plunging. According to the International Energy Agency’s […]
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The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz—now in its seventh week—has triggered the largest oil supply shock in modern history. Roughly 20 million barrels per day (mb/d) of crude and products once flowed through this narrow chokepoint. Today, tanker traffic has collapsed, exports have plunged to a trickle, and Gulf producers have been forced […]
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As of April 20, 2026, U.S.-Iran negotiations remain in a state of high-stakes uncertainty. No final round of talks has been formally confirmed for this week, despite President Trump’s repeated statements that a deal is “very close” and that Iran has signaled willingness to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely in exchange for sanctions relief and […]
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