The United States has temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian crude oil and petroleum products, allowing their sale until April 11. The US Treasury Department announced that shipments already loaded on vessels by March 12 can be traded freely on global markets. The decision follows a joint US-Israeli strike on Iran, after which Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of a global energy shortage.

According to the US Commerce Ministry, the move is part of President Donald Trump’s initiative to stabilize global energy markets while addressing potential threats from Iran. The ministry emphasized that the temporary measure applies only to Russian oil and petroleum products already loaded before the deadline.

The Strait of Hormuz handles about 20 percent of the world’s oil supply, serving as a key route for exports from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Iraq. The temporary easing of sanctions aims to mitigate disruptions in global energy supply caused by the regional conflict and trade restrictions.

Rising oil prices following US-Israel strikes on Iran are intensifying economic pressure on American consumers, even as President Donald Trump declared the war a swift victory. The Strait of Hormuz remains closed, halting Gulf oil shipments and pushing prices above $100 per barrel, with warnings that they could reach $200. Experts say the economic impact will depend on how long the conflict lasts and how quickly shipping resumes. The International Energy Agency called the situation the largest supply disruption in global oil market history.

Analysts warn that a prolonged conflict could trigger 1970s-style stagflation or recession. Gasoline prices in the US have risen to $3.59 per gallon, up 65 cents since February, with further increases expected if the war continues. Supply chain disruptions are already causing port congestion and could soon raise prices for goods, plastics, and fertilizers. Economists note that higher oil costs could keep inflation elevated, complicating Federal Reserve policy and keeping mortgage rates high.

Experts also highlight long-term consequences, including higher debt costs, reduced job creation from military spending, and a global realignment as countries seek to reduce reliance on the US.

A fire broke out aboard the United States aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, injuring two service members, according to a statement released by the US military on Thursday. The incident occurred in the ship’s main laundry space, and officials confirmed that the fire was not related to combat operations.

The US Central Command stated that the blaze was not caused by any hostile action or warfare. However, the military did not disclose the current location of the carrier at the time of the incident. The USS Gerald Ford is one of the US Navy’s major aircraft carriers, but no further details were provided about the extent of the damage or the condition of the injured personnel.

The military’s statement focused on clarifying that the fire was accidental and not linked to any external threat, while investigations into the cause and impact of the incident are expected to continue.

U.S. President Donald Trump has reversed his earlier position on welcoming Iran’s national football team to the upcoming World Cup. In a post on Truth Social, Trump began by welcoming the team but added that he did not believe it would be safe for them to come to the United States given the current situation. His statement came less than a day after FIFA President Gianni Infantino claimed that Trump had reaffirmed support for Iran’s participation.

Tensions between the two nations have escalated since a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28 in Iran killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials. In response, Iran launched drone and missile attacks on U.S. bases in the region. Following Infantino’s earlier post, Iran’s sports minister announced on state television that the country would not participate in the World Cup, citing the U.S. government’s actions.

The World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with Iran’s group-stage matches set in the U.S. FIFA has not yet commented on the situation, leaving uncertainty over Iran’s participation.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on his social media platform Truth Social that the United States, as the world’s largest oil producer, earns significant revenue when global oil prices increase. His remarks came as Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s speech was being broadcast.

Trump emphasized that beyond financial gains, his greater priority is preventing Iran, which he described as an evil empire, from obtaining nuclear weapons and threatening the Middle East and the world. He asserted that he would never allow such a situation to occur.

The comments highlight Trump’s dual focus on U.S. economic interests in the energy sector and his firm stance against Iran’s nuclear ambitions, as reflected in his public messaging.

US President Donald Trump stated that American and foreign vessels wishing to transit the Hormuz Strait would receive support if necessary. However, the US Navy has taken a different stance, confirming that it has declined requests to provide military escorts for commercial ships at this time. The Navy noted that no decision has been made to resume such assistance, which the United States has provided in the past.

Experts have raised concerns about whether commercial vessels will continue using the risky route, warning that potential attacks or conflicts could make it difficult for companies to obtain adequate liability insurance. The uncertainty has already affected energy markets, with crude oil prices in the United States trading near $100 per barrel and gasoline prices beginning to rise, heightening consumer anxiety.

Trump’s political advisers believe that if the ongoing conflict ends soon, easing inflation and cost-of-living pressures could benefit Republicans in the election year.

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, security analysts have warned that Iran could attempt attacks on US soil. During a CBS News program, two former counterterrorism officials discussed potential threats to the United States. Sam Vinograd, a former Homeland Security counterterrorism official, described Iran as a 'multidimensional threat,' suggesting Tehran might use physical assaults, cyberattacks, and information warfare to harm US interests.

Vinograd added that Iran could rely on proxy groups, state agents, and domestic networks within the United States, even paying local criminals to carry out violent acts. The report noted that a man in New York is currently on trial for allegedly conspiring with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to target American politicians, including former presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Former CIA counterterrorism official Joe Jakes said Iran’s goal in any such attack would be to force the US into a defensive posture and demonstrate its offensive capabilities.

Jakes also cautioned that potential attacks could include cyber operations, underscoring the broad range of threats under consideration.

The United States has been seen loading powerful bombs onto B-1 bombers at a Royal Air Force base in the United Kingdom, suggesting preparations for potential strikes on Iran’s underground missile and drone storage sites. Video footage reportedly shows a missile launcher being removed from one of the bombers at RAF Fairford, indicating a shift in armament configuration.

Reports state that the aircraft are being equipped with Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) bombs, which require the bomber to fly within about 25 miles of its target. This implies that US aircraft may need to enter or approach Iranian airspace to carry out such operations. Analysts interpret this as a sign that the Pentagon believes much of Iran’s air defense capability has already been neutralized.

Observers note that the bombers have been positioned visibly outside hangars, apparently to signal that the United States’ most powerful weapons are ready and that Iran’s ability to counter them is limited.

An Iran-affiliated hacking group named Handala has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on the US medical technology company Stryker. The group announced on Wednesday that it stole 50 terabytes of data as retaliation for a military strike in Iran. According to AFP, Handala said the operation was carried out in response to an attack on Iran’s Minab School that killed at least 150 people and as a counter to ongoing cyberattacks on Tehran-backed groups.

Stryker confirmed that the incident caused a global network disruption in its Microsoft environment but reported no evidence of ransomware or malware, stating that the situation was under control. The group warned Israeli leaders and lobbyists that this marks the beginning of a new chapter in cyber warfare. Handala, named after a Palestinian symbol, has recently claimed attacks on companies in Israel and the Gulf region.

Cyber intelligence experts and reports cited in the source describe Handala as one of the most notorious Iran-linked hacking groups, known for data theft and spreading fear and uncertainty.

The United States has initiated a new trade investigation targeting several major partners, including Bangladesh and India. The move follows a Supreme Court decision last month that struck down a key part of President Donald Trump’s tariff policy. US Trade Representative Jamison Greer said the probe, launched under Section 301, aims to assess unfair trade practices and could lead to new tariffs on countries such as China, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico by mid-summer.

The investigation also covers Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, Switzerland, and Norway, but excludes Canada, the US’s second-largest trading partner. The Supreme Court recently ruled that Trump’s previous global tariffs, imposed last April, were illegal because the president exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The court reaffirmed that only Congress can authorize such extraordinary powers.

Following the ruling, Trump reimposed a 10 percent global tariff and threatened to raise it to 15 percent. The new investigation gives his administration leverage to pressure trade partners ahead of upcoming talks with China in Paris and a possible Trump–Xi meeting in Beijing later this month.

The US Department of Defense has reported that the country spent more than $11.3 billion during the first six days of the ongoing war in the Middle East. According to US media reports, Pentagon military officials presented this preliminary estimate to American lawmakers during a closed-door meeting on Tuesday.

Reports from The New York Times and NBC News, citing unnamed sources, stated that the figure covers only direct expenses incurred during the first six days of the conflict. The reports also noted that the estimate excludes pre-war expenditures such as the deployment of additional troops and military equipment.

As a result, the actual cost of the war is expected to be significantly higher than the initial estimate, according to the same reports.

U.S. President Donald Trump told Axios that the ongoing war with Iran would end soon, asserting that there is “nothing left to strike” in the country. He added that the conflict would conclude whenever he decided. The statement follows a series of joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran that began on February 28.

According to Axios, Trump’s remarks contrast with those of Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who said last Wednesday that the war would continue without a set timeline. Citing Reuters and The Times of Israel, Katz stated that the joint operation would persist until all objectives were achieved.

The report also referenced recent escalations, including attacks on six ships in the Persian Gulf and Hormuz Strait, and Iranian strikes that injured 179 people in Israel. The situation remains volatile as both nations signal differing expectations for the conflict’s duration.

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has strongly criticized President Donald Trump for his handling of the ongoing military campaign in Iran, launched jointly by the United States and Israel under the banner of regime change. Speaking in the Senate on March 10, Schumer accused the administration of issuing contradictory statements about the war and demanded that senior officials testify publicly before Congress.

Schumer questioned Trump’s conflicting remarks about whether the Iran operation was nearing its end or escalating toward more intense fighting. He also dismissed Trump’s claim that an Iranian Tomahawk missile was responsible for a deadly attack on a primary school that killed 175 civilians, calling the assertion absurd. Schumer further challenged Trump’s statement that Iran possesses Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The Democratic leader called for a full, independent, and transparent investigation into the civilian casualties and warned that the conflict was already affecting the global economy, particularly through rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. He urged Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to testify before Congress to explain the administration’s actions in the Middle East.

U.S. President Donald Trump told the American news outlet Axios that the ongoing war would end soon, adding that there is little left to strike in Iran. According to Axios, Trump stated that the conflict would end whenever he decided it should. The remarks were made amid continuing U.S.-Israeli military operations in Iran.

The joint offensive began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iranian targets. However, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said last Wednesday that the war would continue without any set timeframe. Citing Reuters and The Times of Israel, Katz emphasized that the campaign would persist until all objectives of the joint U.S.-Israeli operation were achieved.

The situation reflects differing tones between Washington and Tel Aviv regarding the duration of the conflict, as both sides continue their coordinated military actions in the region.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States' mission in Iran is not yet finished. Speaking to reporters outside the White House, he was asked how long the war in Iran would continue. Trump replied that it would take more time and that the administration was assessing how to bring it to an end. He claimed that Iran had lost its navy and air force, lacked air defense systems and radar, and that most of its leadership had been killed.

Trump further asserted that the United States had struck Iran in a way no country had ever been hit before, emphasizing that the mission remained incomplete. His remarks were reported by the BBC and reflect Washington’s ongoing military engagement with Tehran.

The statement underscores continued U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict, with no clear timeline for resolution as of now.