The United States government plans to build an international coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to the newspaper The Wall Street Journal. The US Central Command, for its part, has developed a plan to launch a series of “brief and decisive” attacks against Iran, in an attempt to unblock negotiations with Tehran, according to the Axios portal. Meanwhile, the price of oil continues its climb, rising more than 5% to $124 a barrel of Brent, its highest level in nearly four years.
Read more United States prepares for a long blockade of Hormuz
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WAR AGAINST IRAN
Emirates leaves OPEC: delayed impact, anticipated realignment
At any other time, the exit of the United Arab Emirates from OPEC ―the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries― would have been a major event for the oil market, as it is the fourth largest producer in the cartel after Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran. Although its production capacity is nearly five million barrels per day, second only to Saudi Arabia, the cartel’s quotas limited it to about 3.5, causing chronic discontent in the emirate.
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STOCK MARKET REPORT
Expansion | Oil climbs to $124 and stock markets fall with focus on central banks and earnings
The price of oil continues its climb, rising more than 5% to $124 a barrel of Brent, its highest level in nearly four years, due to the lack of progress in reopening the Strait of Hormuz and the risk that the US may attack Iran again, which also dampens investor sentiment despite the boost provided by mostly positive results from major tech companies.
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The aircraft carrier ‘USS Gerald R. Ford’ will leave the Middle East to return to the US
The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford will leave the Middle East in the coming days to return to the United States. It has been one of the three ships used by the armed forces for the naval blockade against Iranian ports. The ship, which has been outside the United States since June 10, 2025, carrying out various missions in Europe and finally off the coast of Iran, will return in the coming weeks, according to local media.
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The aircraft carrier, one of three of its kind along with the USS George H.W. Bush and the USS Abraham Lincoln, which have served in the Iran war, will return with 4,500 sailors. Its 309-day stay at sea is a record for a modern US aircraft carrier, according to The Washington Post. During its deployment, problems have been reported for the vessel such as a fire in one of its laundries that left some injured and recurring issues with the toilets. Meanwhile, the conflict between the United States and Iran remains in a tense phase despite the indefinite ceasefire. (Efe)
Oil climbs to $124 and stock markets fall
The price of oil continues its climb, rising more than 5% to $124 a barrel of Brent, its highest level in nearly four years, due to the lack of progress in reopening the Strait of Hormuz and the risk that the US may attack Iran again, which also dampens investor sentiment despite the boost provided by mostly positive results from major tech companies.
Asian stocks mostly register losses. Japan’s Nikkei 225 falls 1.4%, China’s Shanghai Composite index trades practically flat, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng drops 1.5%. US futures point to slight gains, while the EuroStoxx 50 anticipates an opening with declines of around 0.5% in another session full of corporate earnings.
Oil rises for the ninth consecutive day, which would be the longest bullish streak since May 2022, following a report indicating that the United States was considering additional military actions against Iran. The commodity has surged more than 100% this year, with most of that increase occurring after the US and Israel attack on Iran at the end of February. Prices extend gains after US President Donald Trump told Axios that he will not lift the naval blockade of Iranian ports until he secures a nuclear deal with Tehran. Thus, geopolitical risks intensify with Donald Trump preparing a prolonged blockade of Iran.
Good morning. We begin the live narration of the latest on the conflict in the Middle East, this Thursday, April 30. The situation remains stalled in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States government plans to build an international coalition to reopen the corridor, according to the newspaper The Wall Street Journal.
Meanwhile, the price of oil continues its climb, rising more than 5% to $124 a barrel of Brent, its highest level in nearly four years.
