The American Times News | Economy, Geopolitics, Calculators

The Middle East crisis entered a more dangerous phase on August 31 as renewed US-Iran military exchanges pushed oil above $90 a barrel, unsettled global financial markets and complicated diplomacy aimed at ending conflict. US forces struck Iranian missile launchers on Larak Island in Strait of Hormuz, while Iran responded with attacks targeting US military positions in Jordan. Developments marked first known direct US military action against Iran since late July.[Reuters] Financial reaction was immediate but more measured than plunge suggests. S&P 500 fell about 0.4%, Dow Jones lost roughly 0.7%, Nasdaq declined about 0.3%. European shares also lower, Germany's DAX among weaker. At same time energy stocks benefited from higher crude, illustrating how conflict creates sharply different effects across economy.[Reuters] More significant warning came from energy market. Brent rose above $90, Reuters reporting benchmark climbing more than 2% after renewed exchanges. Concern not simp...

Middle East crisis entering another volatile phase as military confrontation, diplomatic pressure, wider geopolitical disputes increasingly overlap. On August 30-31, 2026, US forces struck Iranian military positions near Strait of Hormuz, Iran retaliated against US forces in Jordan, oil prices moved above $90 a barrel as traders assessed risk of further disruption to one of world's most important energy corridors. At same time President Donald Trump warned Iran of severe response, Spain accused Russian- and Israeli-linked networks of spreading disinformation during separate migration crisis, Israel signed major air-defense agreement with Greece. These developments not evidence of one coordinated international crisis. They represent several overlapping pressure points: US-Iran confrontation directly affecting energy security; Spain accusations creating another diplomatic dispute involving Israel and Russia; Israel new defense agreement with Greece illustrates how regional insecurity...

Nearly six months after Mojtaba Khamenei became Iran’s supreme leader, the country is being governed by a leader who has yet to make a public appearance in his new position. He has not been seen or heard by Iranians in a public setting since the February 28 attacks that killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and triggered the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Iranian officials maintain that Mojtaba Khamenei remains in charge and continues to make important decisions, but the absence of a verified photograph, video or audio appearance has intensified questions about his health, his working arrangements and how power is being exercised in Tehran. Reuters   The distinction between what is known and what is rumored is particularly important. Reuters reported that Iranian officials and other senior sources say Khamenei is still exercising authority from a secure location while recovering from serious injuries suffered at the beginning of the war. At the same tim...

  Iran’s economic pressures have intensified sharply as the country enters the sixth month of war with the United States and faces a new American campaign to tighten financial and trade restrictions. Annual inflation reached 66% in July, while President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iranian imports and exports had fallen by nearly 35% because of U.S. sanctions and a naval blockade of Iranian ports. The figures underline how the conflict is affecting not only government revenues and oil exports but also the cost of food, access to foreign currency, business activity and the everyday purchasing power of Iranian households. Reuters The inflation figure needs some context. Iran’s Statistical Center reported annual inflation of 66% for the 12 months through July, up from 62% in June. At the same time, the point-to-point inflation rate — which compares prices in July 2026 with July 2025 — reached 87.9%. Food and beverage prices were even more severely affected, with food inflation reported at a...

Pakistan has stepped into one of the most delicate moments of the Iran-U.S. confrontation, with Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir arriving in Tehran on Monday as Washington prepares a new and potentially broader sanctions campaign against Iran and its trading partners. The timing is significant. Iran’s rial has fallen to a record low of about 2.02 million per U.S. dollar on the informal market, while the United States is preparing what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has described as an “economic D-Day” against Tehran. At the same time, Iran continues to exert pressure around the Strait of Hormuz, keeping the economic dispute closely tied to global energy security. For Pakistan, this is more than another diplomatic visit. Islamabad is trying to keep a communication channel open between adversaries while protecting its own security and economic interests. The success or failure of that effort could depend less on whether Pakistan can broker an immediate agreement and more on whether it can...

  US-Iran Showdown: UAE Suspends Trade, Trump Vows 'Economic Warfare' and New Sanctions Surge The U.S.-Iran confrontation has entered a sharper economic phase as Washington threatens unprecedented pressure on Tehran while the United Arab Emirates has suspended trade and financial dealings with Iran. The moves come amid a wider standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, stalled diplomacy and continuing concerns about attacks on commercial shipping. Together, the developments are increasing pressure on Iran while also raising the economic risks for Gulf states, energy markets and companies with exposure to the region. � Reuters +1 Trump Escalates Economic Pressure on Iran President Donald Trump said the United States would pursue what he described as “Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale” against Iran. He warned that countries, businesses, financial institutions, airports or government entities providing what Washington considers a lifeline to Tehran could face sever...