Day 42 of Iran War: Pakistan to Host US-Iran Talks as Fragile Ceasefire Stirs Regional Tensions

A ceasefire between the United States and Iran, brokered by Pakistan, is underway, though uncertainty over its scope is fueling tensions across the region.

Pakistan is set to host talks between US and Iranian officials this weekend as both sides seek to stabilize the agreement.

Gulf states are working to contain the fallout from the war. Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and reaffirmed support for regional allies.

US President Donald Trump said American...

Day 40 of Iran War: US, Iran Agree to Two-Week Truce as Hormuz Reopening Tied to Talks

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week truce late Tuesday, with Tehran committing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under temporary arrangements. The White House said Israel was also party to the truce. 

Under the ceasefire terms, Iran and Oman would coordinate shipping access and could levy transit fees on vessels passing through Hormuz, a critical artery for roughly one-fifth of global oil flows.

The reopening of the strait would free approximately 130 million barrels of crude oil...

Day 39 of Iran War: Trump Says “Whole Civilization Will Die Tonight” if Deal Missed

US President Donald Trump reiterated his threat to Iran to make a deal by his Tuesday deadline, saying a "whole civilization will die tonight" if an agreement is not reached to end the war.

"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World."

Day 35 of Iran War: US, Israel Expand Strikes on Iran as Washington Ramps Up Pressure

The United States and Israel have expanded their attacks on Iran as Washington intensifies pressure on the Iranian government.

US President Donald Trump has stepped up his rhetoric, warning that the US military “hasn’t even started” targeting key infrastructure and threatening to intensify its bombing of Iran if it does not agree to Washington’s terms.

Pakistan said it would continue efforts to push Washington and Tehran towards ending the war, though it acknowledged “obstacles” to peace...

Day 34 of Iran War: US-Israel War on Iran Intensifies; Oil Jumps, Tehran Rejects Ceasefire Claims

The United States and Israel stepped up strikes on Iran, with reported casualties and damage across multiple areas, as Iranian forces launched new missile and drone attacks in response.

In an address on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said Washington had “destroyed the Iranian military” and was nearing its war objectives. Trump also said Tehran had sought a ceasefire, a claim Iranian officials denied...

Day 28 of Iran War: Trump Delays Attacks on Iranian Energy Infrastructure

US President Donald Trump has delayed planned strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure by 10 days until April 6, saying talks with Tehran are “going very well,” despite Iranian officials rejecting the US proposal as unfair.

US and Israeli forces continued strikes on Iranian cities, while Iran fired retaliatory missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf states.

Pakistan said it was relaying messages between Washington and Tehran, with Türkiye and Egypt also supporting mediation efforts as diplomatic activity intensifies to prevent a broader regional conflict.

Officials said mediators were...

Day 27 of Iran War: Trump Asserts Talks Underway as War Continues

The US-Israeli war on Iran shows no sign of abating, with attacks growing more intense even as US President Donald Trump asserts that peace talks are underway, a claim Tehran has denied.

Trump has asserted that Iranian leaders want a deal but fear internal backlash, and the White House has warned it is prepared to “unleash hell” if Iran refuses a resolution.

Markets continue to react. Oil prices are climbing once more amid fading hopes of de-escalation, while analysts warn the war could disrupt global...

Day 26 of Iran War: Oil Eases on Ceasefire Hopes as Diplomatic Signals Remain Mixed

The war involving the United States and Israel against Iran has entered its 26th day, marked by continued military escalation alongside increasingly frequent and conflicting diplomatic signals.

Airstrikes and missile exchanges persist across Iran, Israel, and parts of the Gulf, even as talk of negotiations grows. US officials have signaled readiness to escalate military operations while also leaving the door open to diplomacy. Reports of a potential framework to end the war remain unverified, though multiple outlets indicate that a 15-point proposal has been...

Day 24 of Iran War: Trump Delays Iran Power Plant Strikes for Five Days; Oil Plummets

The US–Israeli war on Iran reached its 24th day on Monday, contributing to a turbulent start to the week for global markets.

President Donald Trump announced a five-day delay in planned US strikes on Iranian power plants to allow time for ongoing negotiations, which he described as "very good and productive". 

However, Iran denied any direct talks and argued that Trump pulled back after facing threats of retaliation. Oil prices swung sharply, climbing earlier in the day before dropping following Trump’s announcement...

Day 21 of Iran War: Iran Intensifies Campaign Against Gulf Arab States

The Iranian campaign against Gulf Arab states is expanding, carried out in response to an Israeli strike earlier this week on the South Pars gas field.

On Friday, Tehran launched an attack on an oil refinery in Kuwait, while Israel continued its bombing of the capital. Kuwait’s national oil company reported that multiple units were taken offline. 

Iranian strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG facility cut about 17% of output, potentially for up to five years, according to QatarEnergy...

Day 19 of Iran War: Middle East Supply Fears Boost Oil 6%; US Eases Shipping Rules

The US-Israeli war on Iran is spreading regionally on its 19th day, with missiles and drones targeting Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan. Israel bombed central Beirut early Wednesday, killing at least six people and marking an expansion of the US-Israeli war against Iran. Iran carried out further retaliatory attacks on Israel, causing significant damage, and vowed revenge after Israeli strikes killed security chief Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani.

Global markets remain volatile as US diesel prices climbed past $5 per gallon on Wednesday, marking their highest level since 2022. Meanwhile, the national average price for...

Expana's Weekly Top 10: Stories Making Waves Across Global Markets

Throughout the week, Expana’s team of dedicated journalists connects the industry with the “how” behind market dynamics, providing a comprehensive space for the market-moving stories shaping global headlines.

With so much information to filter through, Expana is connecting the dots with its weekly roundup of the top ten stories making waves — in no particular order.

10. USDA Launches New World Screwworm Grand Challenge

The USDA announced the launch of the New World Screwworm (NWS) Grand Challenge following reports that the flesh-eating parasitic...