Middle East Market Intelligence Brief: Week Ending July 24, 2026

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, opening a new front in the US-Iran war and threatening global energy supplies via the Bab el-Mandeb, a key oil shipping route.

The move, described as retaliation against Saudi Arabia, came as mediators proposed a 10-day ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.

Tensions escalated after the Houthis claimed missile and drone attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. President Donald Trump vowed to hold Iran responsible for any future Houthi attacks, threatening "major military punishment"

Middle East Market Intelligence Brief: Week Ending July 17, 2026

The United States expanded its war against Iran by striking bridges, an airport, and logistics infrastructure, while Iran retaliated with attacks on US bases in the Gulf and renewed disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passageway for global energy routes.

The collapse of a recent ceasefire has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict, with both sides signaling potential further escalation against critical infrastructure. The renewed fighting has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, pushed oil prices higher, and raised concerns that Iran and its Houthi allies could threaten additional maritime chokepoints...

Middle East Market Intelligence Brief: Week Ending July 10, 2026

This week, US President Donald Trump said a US-Iran memorandum aimed at ending the war was no longer valid, following renewed strikes and tensions.

He also announced plans to cut trade ties with Spain, criticizing its NATO contributions, as European leaders sought unity at the alliance summit.

Middle East Market Intelligence Brief: Week Ending June 12, 2026

A US–Iran memorandum to pause the Gulf war could be signed as soon as Sunday, though wording is still being finalized.

Iran is pushing for the deal to also end fighting in Lebanon and includes demands like lifting sanctions, unfreezing Iranian assets, and halting hostilities across all fronts, while nuclear issues would be postponed.

Trump said a “great settlement” was ready and called off new strikes, but details remain unclear. Reports also suggest tensions persist around the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy supplies.
 
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Day 60 of Iran War: Trump Team Reviews Iran Proposal; UAE Quits OPEC

US President Donald Trump’s national security team is reviewing an Iranian peace proposal as negotiations with Tehran remain deadlocked.

Iran has suggested deferring nuclear talks until the war ends and disputes over Gulf shipping are resolved, an approach opposed by Trump.

Oil prices extended gains on Tuesday as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained sharply constrained, with only a small number of vessels transiting and some tankers turned back.

Dozens of countries have called for the “urgent and unimpeded reopening” of the vital waterway, which carries roughly one-fifth of global oil supply...

Day 41 of Iran War: Lebanon Mourns After Deadly Israeli Strikes; Iran, US Clash Over Ceasefire Terms

Lebanon declared a national day of mourning after Israeli air strikes killed over 250 people and injured more than 1,000, marking the deadliest bombardment of the current war. 

Iran said a cessation of Israeli strikes in Lebanon was a key condition of its proposed 10-point plan to end the broader Middle East war. Iran's Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said ceasefire talks were “unreasonable” given what he described as repeated violations, including continued attacks in Lebanon.

Confusion persists within the...

Trump Admin Roundtable Discussion: Bridge Payments to Farmers, Soybean Purchases, Fair Trade, EUDR

On December 8, US President Trump held a roundtable meeting with members of the US farming community, Agriculture Secretary Rollins, Treasury Secretary Bessent, and others at the White House to announce monetary support to farmers impacted by the US trade policy. 

The administration announced plans to provide $12 billion in tariff income-fueled support for farmers, to address the high costs of farm equipment, and to examine anti-competitive behavior in the food supply chain...