Iran Restricts Strait of Hormuz Access
Strait of Hormuz Iran access restrictions U.S.: The Strait of Hormuz will only reopen to those who comply with Iran’s new laws, Tehran has said. Ebrahim Azizi, the head of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee, said the passage would “certainly reopen” but not to the United States.
Oil Prices Could Surge Above $150
oil prices surge Iran war Strait of Hormuz closure: White House officials are bracing for oil prices to surge past $150 per barrel as the Iran war stretches into its second month and the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, according to a new report. In recent weeks, the average cost of a barrel of crude has hovered around $100, a figure that the Trump administration now sees as the new “baseline,” though a potential spike to $200 hasn’t been ruled out, a source familiar with the matter told Politico.
UAE Denies Plans to Use Force in Strait
UAE Strait of Hormuz force denial Wall Street Journal: The United Arab Emirates is denying a Wall Street Journal report that it is preparing to help use force to open the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE Foreign Affairs office denied the report on Wednesday, releasing a statement saying the strait “cannot be subject to disruption or coercion by any state, particularly in ways that threaten global economic stability and international security.”
Israeli Strikes Hit Tehran Infrastructure
Israel airstrikes Tehran Karaj bridge power outages: Israeli warplanes targeted a major highway bridge connecting Tehran to the nearby city of Karaj on Thursday and Iran claimed power outages also occurred in the region.
Russian Oil Flows Shift to Asia
Russian crude India imports Urals premium Brent: The temporary easing of U.S. sanctions on Russian crude has rapidly redrawn global oil flows, with India stepping back in as the dominant buyer of previously distressed barrels. Even as overall imports are about to ease seasonally, Russian volumes into Asia are surging—tightening the market and pushing Urals crude to a rare $8 per barrel premium over Brent.
U.S. Energy Highlights
LNG Exports Hit Record Levels
U.S. LNG exports record Middle East supply disruption: U.S. LNG exports hit a new record in March as conflict in the Middle East took nearly 20% of global supplies offline, with plants running above their nameplate capacity and new processing units starting up.
Solar Installations Decline Year Over Year
U.S. solar power installations 2025 decline: The U.S. installed 26.5 gigawatts of solar power last year, down 22% from the year before, though solar remained the most installed generation source of 2025.
Uber Expands EV Incentive Program
Uber EV grant program $4000 drivers nationwide: Uber will expand its electric vehicle grant program from a few select cities, allowing drivers nationwide to apply for $4,000 to ditch their gas-powered cars.
DOE Criticized Over Nuclear Project
DOE inspector general NuScale small modular reactor: The Department of Energy’s inspector general finds the department mismanaged plans to build the country’s first small modular nuclear reactor in partnership with NuScale Power and a group of Utah utilities.