Day 59 of Iran War: Trump Floats Phone-Based Negotiations; Hormuz Traffic Stays Low

Iran has intensified diplomatic efforts to end the war with the United States, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveling to Russia today.

Araghchi is expected to meet President Vladimir Putin, with talks set to focus on bilateral relations and broader regional developments, including the US-Israel war on Iran.

US President Donald Trump said Iran could begin negotiations by phone if it wants to end the two-month war. Key sticking points remain Iran’s nuclear program and access to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran effectively...

Day 56 of Iran War: Ceasefire Extended; Trump Cautions on Hormuz as Oil Gains

US President Donald Trump announced that the Israel–Lebanon ceasefire has been extended by an additional three weeks following discussions at the White House with representatives from both sides.

He also directed the US Navy to "shoot and kill" any Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

Traffic through the strategically vital waterway remains severely disrupted, and Iran’s seizure of two large cargo vessels has highlighted its continued leverage. 

Oil markets reacted sharply on Friday, with Brent...

Day 28 of Iran War: Trump Delays Attacks on Iranian Energy Infrastructure

US President Donald Trump has delayed planned strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure by 10 days until April 6, saying talks with Tehran are “going very well,” despite Iranian officials rejecting the US proposal as unfair.

US and Israeli forces continued strikes on Iranian cities, while Iran fired retaliatory missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf states.

Pakistan said it was relaying messages between Washington and Tehran, with Türkiye and Egypt also supporting mediation efforts as diplomatic activity intensifies to prevent a broader regional conflict.

Officials said mediators were...

Expana's Weekly Top 10: Key Developments in Weather, Trade, and Market Trends

This week on Expana, headlines brought together a dynamic mix of extreme weather, evolving trade disputes, and shifts across consumer and corporate landscapes. A major winter storm disrupted US infrastructure and supply chains, while new tariff threats reshaped trade flows in seafood, agriculture, and manufacturing. Together, these developments highlight growing pressures across food, commodities, and retail sectors worldwide. Below, Expana presents the top 10 stories influencing markets, trade, and consumer sentiment this week- In no particular order.

10. Winter Storm Grips Much...

Trade, Debt and Demographics Shape Next Era of Agricultural Policy – Agri-Food Americas 2025

Dr. David Kohl, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech, offered a broad forecast for the agricultural and food sectors, describing a “bifurcated” global economy and outlining megatrends expected to shape farming, trade, and policy through 2035. The remarks were delivered at Expana’s Agri-Food Americas 2025 conference in Chicago today.   

Dr. Kohl framed the global economy as divided, with the US performing relatively well, while much of the rest of the world grapples with slower activity.