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Sunday, April 5, 2026

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02 Apr 2026

Bahrain Hopes for Council Vote on Hormuz Resolution by Friday

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Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday he hopes for a council vote on Friday on a resolution Bahrain has drafted to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz.Oil prices have surged since the U.S. and Israel struck Iran at the end of February, kicking off a conflict that has now exceeded a month and effectively closed the strait to shipping traffic.Bahrain has presented Security Council…

02 Apr 2026

US Crude Trade at Record After Trump Promises to Continue Attacking Iran

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Front-month U.S. crude oil futures were trading at their largest-ever premium over the second-month contract on Thursday as traders scrambled for barrels after U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to continue attacking Iran.Widening backwardation, the market term for immediate deliveries trading at a premium over barrels scheduled for delivery in a later month, suggests investors perceive supplies will be short in the near-term.WTI crude futures for May delivery were trading around $15.70 per barrel higher than the June contract during the session.The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran…

02 Apr 2026

Oil Hikes 7% after Trump Says US-Israel will Keep Striking Iran

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Oil prices climbed nearly 7% on Thursday after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would continue attacks on Iran, stoking fears of prolonged disruptions to oil supply.Brent crude futures LCOc1were up $7.65, or 7.6%, to $108.81 per barrel at 0902 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 futures were up $7.06, or 7.1%, at $107.18 per barrel.Both benchmarks were heading for the biggest daily gains, in both absolute and percentage terms, in three weeks, though they remained…

02 Apr 2026

Bahrain Push for Hormuz Shipping Resolution Hits Hurdles at UN

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Bahrain's effort to secure a U.N. resolution to authorise "all necessary means" to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz ran into new obstacles on Wednesday, underscoring divisions over how to deal with Iran's effective closure of the waterway that has resulted in the worst energy-supply disruption ever.Bahrain, which took over the presidency of the 15-member U.N. Security Council for the month of April, had circulated a fresh version of a draft resolution that dropped a previous explicit reference to binding enforcement…

31 Mar 2026

Russian Oil Tanker Arrives in Cuba's Matanzas Port

Raul Navarro González/Wirestock © Adobe Stock/Creators

A Russia-flagged tanker carrying some 700,000 barrels of crude arrived in Cuba's Matanzas Bay at daybreak on Tuesday, according to a Reuters witness and shipping data, marking the first significant oil delivery since the Trump administration cut off the island's fuel supply.The Anatoly Kolodkin vessel, under U.S. sanctions, entered Cuban territorial waters late on Sunday not far from the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay. The U.S. said it was allowing the tanker to deliver fuel…

31 Mar 2026

China, Pakistan Call for Gulf Ceasefire, Restoration of Normal Strait of Hormuz Navigation

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China and Pakistan on Tuesday called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gulf and the wider Middle East, urging the swift launch of peace talks and the restoration of normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as their foreign ministers met in Beijing.Both countries have called for talks to end the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, now in the fifth week. Pakistan has previously said it is ready to facilitate peace talks between Washington and Tehran.Pakistan, which shares a more than 900‑km border with Iran, has emerged as a key mediator, building on its courtship of U.S.

31 Mar 2026

Drone Strike on Kuwaiti Oil Tanker off Dubai Signals Further Escalation in Gulf

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Tehran attacked and set ablaze a fully loaded crude oil tanker off Dubai on Tuesday, despite a threat by President Donald Trump that the U.S. will obliterate Iran's energy plants if it does not agree to a peace deal and open the Strait of Hormuz.Authorities in Dubai said the fire on the Kuwait-flagged Al-Salmi had been brought under control following a drone attack, with no oil leak and no injuries to the crew. Kuwait Petroleum Corp, the ship's owner, said the vessel's hull was damaged.The attack was the latest on merchant vessels in the strait…

30 Mar 2026

Brent Oil Prices See Monthly Rise as Houthi Attacks Widen Gulf Conflict

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Oil prices extended gains on Monday, with Brent heading for a record monthly rise, after Yemeni Houthis widened the Iran war by launching their first attacks on Israel.Brent futures rose 66 cents or 0.6% to $113.23 a barrel at 1031 am ET (1431 GMT) after settling 4.2% higher on Friday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were up $2.2 or 2.2%, at $101.83 after gaining 5.5% in the previous session.Brent has soared by about 58% this month, the steepest monthly jump in LSEG data going back to 1988, exceeding gains made during the 1990 Gulf War. U.S.

30 Mar 2026

Oil Rises as Widening Conflict Endangers Red Sea, Hormuz Flows

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Oil prices extended gains on Monday, with Brent headed for a record monthly rise, after Yemeni Houthis launched their first attacks on Israel over the weekend, widening the U.S.-Israel war with Iran in the Middle East.Brent crude futures LCOc1 jumped $3.94, or 3.5%, to $116.51 a barrel at 0703 GMT after settling 4.2% higher on Friday.U.S. West Texas Intermediate CLc1 was at $102.14 a barrel, up $1.86, or 1.87%, following a 5.5% gain in the previous session."The market has all but discounted the prospect of a negotiated end to the war…

31 Mar 2026

Report: US to Allow Russian Oil Tanker to Reach Cuba

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The U.S. is allowing a Russian tanker full of crude oil to reach Cuba, the New York Times reported on Sunday, possibly granting a lifeline to the Caribbean island amid a de facto oil blockade imposed by Washington.Ship tracking data showed the Russian-flagged tanker Anatoly ⁠Kolodkin on Sunday was just off the eastern tip of Cuba.The Times report, citing a U.S. official briefed on the matter, said it was unclear why the U.S. Coast Guard was allowing the shipment to go through.

29 Mar 2026

Pakistan Prepares for Talks on Ending Iran War

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Pakistan said on Sunday it was preparing to host "meaningful talks" to end the conflict over Iran in coming days even though Tehran earlier accused Washington of preparing a land assault while seeking negotiations.Speaking after talks between regional foreign ministers, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said they had covered possible ways to bring an early and permanent end to the war in the region as well as potential U.S.-Iran talks in Islamabad."Pakistan will be honored to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in coming days…

27 Mar 2026

Oil Tanker Loaded with Russian Fuel Arrives in Venezuelan Waters, Bound for Cuba

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A tanker carrying some 200,000 barrels of Russia-origin fuel originally bound for Cuba has arrived in Venezuelan waters, LSEG ship-monitoring data showed on Friday.The Hong Kong-flagged vessel Sea Horse, which this year loaded Russia-origin diesel through a ship-to-ship transfer, earlier this month rerouted from Cuba to Venezuela after remaining stuck in the Atlantic Ocean for weeks, a blow for the oil-thirsty island that has seen several power blackouts this month.It was unclear why the Sea Horse had been stranded at sea, or why it had changed course to Venezuela.The administration of U.S.

27 Mar 2026

Chinese Container Ships Turn Back After Trying to Exit Strait of Hormuz

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Two Chinese container ships turned backed after trying to exit the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, ship-tracking data showed, despite assurances from Iran that Chinese vessels could pass.The operator, China's COSCO, had said in a March 25 client advisory that it had resumed bookings for general cargo containers for shipments from Asia to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq.The CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean, both Hong Kong flagged, have been stuck in the Gulf since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began on Feb.

26 Mar 2026

UK Authorizes Military to Board Russian Shadow Tankers in British Waters

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday he had authorised the military to board and detain Russian ships in British waters to disrupt a network of vessels that his government says enables Moscow to export oil despite Western sanctions.The decision comes as other European nations, including France, Belgium and Sweden, have stepped up efforts to detain Russia's so-called shadow fleet of tankers used by Moscow to fund its four-year war against Ukraine.Starmer said he approved…

26 Mar 2026

Oil Rises as Ceasefire Optimism Fades

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Oil rose about 2% on Thursday, clawing back losses from the previous session on concerns that protracted fighting in the Middle East will further disrupt energy flows.Brent futures LCOc1 rose $2.08, or 2.03%, to $104.30 a barrel by 0638 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures CLc1 were up $1.93, or 2.14%, at $92.25 a barrel.Both benchmarks slumped more than 2% on Wednesday.Iran is still reviewing a U.S. proposal to end the war, but has no intention of holding talks to end the Middle East conflict, Iran's foreign minister said on Wednesday.U.S.

25 Mar 2026

UK Authorises Military to Board Russian Shadow Fleet Tankers

Source: UK government

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday he has given the military permission to board and detain Russian ships his government alleges are part of a network of vessels that enables Moscow to export oil despite Western sanctions.The decision comes as other European nations have stepped up efforts to disrupt Russia's so-called shadow fleet of tankers used by Moscow to fund its four-year war against Ukraine.Starmer said he approved more aggressive action against the…

25 Mar 2026

Oil Falls on Middle East Ceasefire Hopes, Easing Supply Fears

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Oil prices sank about 4% on Wednesday after reports the United States had sent Iran a 15-point proposal aimed at ending the war in the Middle East, raising prospects of a ceasefire that could ease supply disruptions in the region.Brent crude futures LCOc1 fell $4.17, or 4%, to $100.32 a barrel by 0708 GMT, after declining to as low as $97.57. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 futures were down $3.11, or 3.4%, at $89.24 a barrel, after falling to as low as $86.72.Both benchmarks rose nearly 5% on Tuesday…

24 Mar 2026

US, India Discuss Importance of Keeping Strait of Hormuz Open

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Tuesday and discussed the situation in the Middle East, including the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, U.S. envoy to India Sergio Gor and Modi said in separate posts on X.This was the first call between the two leaders since the U.S. and Israel launched co-ordinated attacks against Iran on February 28."India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest.

24 Mar 2026

European Energy Shortages Could Be Felt By April

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Energy shortages could hit Europe by next month, Shell CEO Wael Sawan said on Tuesday, adding that securing adequate energy supply was critical to national security.Countries cannot have national security without energy security, Sawan said, adding that Shell was trying to work with governments to help them address the energy crisis, including with storage and purchasing. The Middle East conflict, now in its fourth week, has already affected supplies of jet fuel, with diesel set to be next…

24 Mar 2026

Oil Rises as Iran Denies US Talks, Supply Risks Persist

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Oil prices rose on Tuesday on supply fear, as Iran denied it had talks with the United States to end the war in the Gulf, contradicting U.S. President Donald Trump who said a deal could be reached soon.Brent futures LCOc1 rose $2.89, or 2.9%, to $102.83 a barrel at 0710 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) CLc1 climbed $2.49, or 2.8%, to $90.62.Crude futures dropped more than 10% on Monday, after Trump ordered a five-day delay to attacks on Iran's power plants, saying the U.S.

24 Mar 2026

TotalEnergies Abandons US Offshore Wind for Fossil Fuel Projects

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The United States and French energy major TotalEnergies said on Monday they would redirect nearly $1 billion from offshore wind leases to U.S. oil and natural gas production.The agreement marks a new strategy in the Trump administration's wide-ranging effort to stymie development of U.S. offshore wind projects, which President Donald Trump has said he finds ugly, costly and inefficient.His administration has moved to increase domestic fossil fuel production and scrap policies…

23 Mar 2026

Two India-Bound Tankers Pass Through Strait of Hormuz

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Two tankers bound for India sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to attack Iran’s power plants unless Tehran drops threats that have effectively closed the Gulf.Gulf nations including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have seen exports blocked since the war in Iran began on February 28 and Tehran launched attacks on ships and threatened any passing through the Gulf’s southern strait.The two India-flagged tankers were carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) used mostly for cooking in India.

23 Mar 2026

Oil Prices Drop 8% Ahead of Possible Middle East Peace Talks

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Oil prices dropped about 8% on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would postpone any military strikes against Iranian power plants for five days and cited constructive talks to resolve hostilities in the Middle East, hours before a deadline that threatened to escalate the four-week-old war.Brent futures fell $8.92, or 8.0%, to $103.27 a barrel at 12:31 p.m. EDT (1631 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate lost $7.17, or 7.3%, to $91.06.Extreme price changes in…