WASHINGTON, D. C. : The United States and Iraq signed about US$60 billion in agreements, including major energy projects aimed at creating alternative oil export routes to reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz as conflict involving Iran continues to disrupt global energy markets.
US Treasury Secretary says China's purchases of Iran's oil decreased In an interview with Fox Business, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that China's purchases of Iranian oil have decreased substantially.
Why are there sanctions on Iran and when could they be lifted? Submitted by Daniel Tester on Fri, 07/17/2026 - 11:03 For nearly 50 years the West has targeted Tehran, citing its nuclear ambitions, links with armed groups and human rights abuses Two Iranian men exchange rials against US dollars at an exchange shop in Tehran in August 2018 (AFP) On US President Donald Trump has called for further sanctions against Tehran amid fresh US strikes on Iran . “Republicans should add Iran to the Russian Sanctions Bill,” Trump said on social media on Sunday, referencing a much-delayed bill that aims to target Moscow financially for its invasion of Ukraine, It’s but the latest move against Iran under one of the broadest sanction programmes imposed by the West worldwide.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 21 (ANI): Indian benchmark indices opened on a flat note on Tuesday, with both the Sensex and Nifty starting the session with a gap-down, even as global crude oil prices eased slightly amid reports of mediation efforts between the United States and Iran. At the time of reporting, Sensex was trading at 77,697. 75, down 10.
New Delhi [India], July 20 (ANI): Rising crude oil prices have renewed concerns over inflation and India's exposure to an energy shock, which could impact the rupee and foreign portfolio investment (FPI) flows. Brent crude futures rose USD 2. 69, or 3.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 20 (ANI): Indian benchmark indices opened sharply lower on Monday, weighed down by escalating tensions between the US and Iran that pushed Brent crude prices above USD 90 a barrel. Both Sensex and Nifty began the week with a gap-down opening, with the Sensex falling more than 500 points and the Nifty trading around the 24,200 level. Nifty was trading at 24,208.
Washington DC [US], July 19 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Sunday backed adding Iran to a proposed Russia sanctions bill, saying Republicans should expand the legislation to include Tehran. 'Republicans should add Iran to the Russian Sanctions Bill. That's what Lindsey wanted to do, and it was going to happen.
Tehran [Iran], July 20 (ANI): The Indian Embassy in Iran on Sunday issued an advisory for nationals planning to travel to Iran, urging them to postpone their visit in light of the developing security situation and also urging Indians already in Iran to consider temporarily leaving the country. The details were shared by the Embassy of India in Tehran in a post on X on Sunday.
Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil, rose more than 3 percent as trading resumed on Sunday, while S&P 500 futures remained essentially unchanged.
Iran closes two border crossings with Kurdish region of Iraq Iran has closed the Marivan and Hawraman border crossings with Iraq and urged residents to stay away from the surrounding frontier areas in Kurdistan province, Kurdish-language broadcaster Aryen TV reported. Border guards warned citizens not to approach the border strip in Dehreh-ki, Dezli and other frontier areas, advising against any movement or activity there, according to the report. The Marivan and Hawraman crossings connect Iran's Kurdistan province with Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.
EU, Gulf states call on Iran to permanently open Hormuz without conditions The European Union and Gulf states called on Iran to permanently open the Strait of Hormuz without conditions or fees, Saudi state television reported.
The Trump administration has recently sought to scale back sanctions as adversaries develop workarounds that some believe could erode the U. S. dollar’s supremacy.
India-linked ships among top Hormuz transit users, MarineTraffic says Vessels travelling to and from India accounted for one of the largest shares of applications to use Iran-designated routes through the Strait of Hormuz, according to MarineTraffic. Citing the data released by Iran, MarineTraffic said that in the three weeks following the 17 June US-Iran peace memorandum, India-bound ships accounted for 20 percent of outbound transit requests, second only to China at 21 percent. For vessels entering the Gulf, India was the largest country of origin, representing 21 percent of requests.
Hormuz traffic falls to three-week low, MarineTraffic says Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to a three-week low of eight vessels on Thursday, down from 15 the previous day, ship-tracking platform MarineTraffic said. In a post on X, MarineTraffic said seven of the eight transits used the Iranian shipping lane, with no vessels crossing via the Omani route and no shadow fleet movements recorded. Traffic was evenly split between commercial and non-commercial vessels, while half of all crossings were by Iranian-flagged ships.
Iraq and Syria sign deal to rehabilitate Mediterranean pipeline, bypass Strait of Hormuz Iraq and Syria have signed a cooperation agreement to reconstruct a pipeline running from Iraqi oil fields to Syria’s Mediterranean coast, as part of a US-brokered deal to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Middle East Eye was the first to reveal that the US was brokering efforts to rehabilitate the Kirkuk-Baniyas oil pipeline, with US ambassador to Turkey and Syria envoy Tom Barrack taking the lead. After MEE's exclusive, Bloomberg, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and The Financial Times reported on the expected deal.
Iraq and Syria sign deal to rehabilitate Mediterranean pipeline, bypass Strait of Hormuz Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 07/17/2026 - 21:00 MEE was the first to reveal that Syria and Iraq planned to unveil pipeline deal in Washington Oil facilities at the Baniyas port refinery on the Mediterranean Sea, Syria, on 15 April 2026 (Bakr Alkasem/AFP) Off Iraq and Syria have signed a cooperation agreement to reconstruct a pipeline running from Iraqi oil fields to Syria’s Mediterranean coast, as part of a US-brokered deal to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Middle East Eye was the first to reveal that the US was brokering efforts to rehabilitate the Kirkuk-Baniyas oil pipeline, with US ambassador to Turkey and Syria envoy Tom Barrack taking the lead. After MEE's exclusive, Bloomberg, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and The Financial Times reported on the expected deal.
US-backed plans to revive an oil pipeline linking Iraq and Syria have gained new urgency as Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on shipping disrupt regional exports and drive oil prices higher.
New Delhi [India], July 17 (ANI): The recent escalation between the United States and Iran is unlikely to drive commodity prices back to previous highs, with easing price pressures expected to improve operating margins for Indian manufacturers from H2FY27, according to a report by Elara Securities.
The US dollar reached a record 1,918,000 rials on Iran’s open market Friday, surpassing its previous high as war, inflation and worsening economic prospects continued to weaken the currency.
Only three commodity vessels crossed Strait of Hormuz on Thursday Only three commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Thurday, a record low since May, Reuters reported. According to Reuters, most ships were redirected or stopped due to the US' resumed blockade on the Strait. The reported added that global energy prices have risen due to the lack of traffic passing through the Strait.
