President Donald Trump has escalated his showdown with Tehran, threatening to obliterate key Iranian civilian infrastructure by a Tuesday deadline unless the Strait of Hormuz is reopened,. Iran has flatly rejected a proposed ceasefire, demanding a permanent end to the war, which sent crude oil surging and whipsawed US equities as the window for diplomacy violently narrows,, .
A volatile US-Iran military conflict sent global markets on a wild ride this week, culminating in a fragile, Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire ahead of critical talks in Islamabad. The escalating crisis effectively choked off the Strait of Hormuz, igniting a devastating energy shock that sent gasoline prices skyrocketing and forced an abrupt reassessment of central bank rate-cut timelines globally. Although a mid-week truce triggered a massive relief rally that dragged oil below $100 a barrel, enduring maritime gridlock and escalating secondary conflicts ensure the geopolitical risk premium remains heavily priced into global assets.