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Oil falls below $74 as Hormuz traffic recovers after Iran war

Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, was trading at $73.81 a barrel at 10:40 a.m. EDT, down 4.2% from Tuesday's close.

AMIRHOSSEIN KHORGOOEI / ISNA / AFP via Getty Images

Explainer

Hormuz tolls, frozen funds pose early tests for US-Iran peace progress

Early cracks are beginning to show following last week’s US-Iran deal announcement even as both sides move ahead with steps toward ending the four-month conflict.

A picture shows the four seasons hotel in Beirut with the snow covered mountain of Sannine in the background on March 8, 2019.

Explainer

Lebanon advances controversial $500K golden visa law: What to know

While its supporters say the scheme would help Lebanon's economy recover, critics say it could offer a channel for corruption.

Latest News

Syria announces direct flights to Amsterdam as Europe links expand

OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images

Explainer

Qatar blast underscores challenges in race to restart Gulf energy flows

Qatar's Energy Minister and CEO of QatarEnergy Saad Sherida al-Kaabi speaks during a press conference in Doha on June 22, 2026.

Interview

US-Egypt fund makes case for economic statecraft in hard power era

A worker counts banknotes after filling up the tank of a vehicle at a petrol station in Giza on March 10, 2026.

Cornelius Queen

Cornelius Queen

Senior Vice President of the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund

Oil falls more than 3% after Iran, US signal progress in talks

MUSCAT, OMAN - JUNE 21: Oil tankers and cargo vessels remain anchored off Port Sultan Qaboos around Qaboos Port on June 21, 2026 in Muscat, Oman. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for the region's oil and gas, was effectively blockaded since the outbreak of war between the United States and Iran in late February. This week's provisional peace deal between the countries was meant to reopen the waterway to shipping traffic, but the pace of that reopening is unclear amid continued fighting in Lebano

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

Vanessa Ghanem

In Dubai, reporting on business, energy and politics

Francisco Serrano

In Lisbon, reporting on North Africa business

ENI headquarter in San Donato Milanese, near Milan, Italy, Oct. 27, 2017.

After decade halt, Eni, BP resume hydrocarbon exploration in Libya

Onshore drilling had been suspended for a decade, since the beginning of the Libyan civil war between rival factions in the country’s east and west.

Attendees arrive for the yearly Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Oct. 24, 2023.

Saudi Arabia pushes for Africa debt relief as private investments set to reach $25B

Saudi Arabia is pushing for debt relief for African nations burdened with more than $1 trillion in liabilities.

KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images

India revokes UAE operator's authorization to handle cross-border transactions

India's central bank announced the decision in a statement noting that the UAE's exchange body showed “non-compliance with regulatory requirements.”

United Arab Emirates

Attendees take part in the annual Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in the Saudi capital Riyadh on October 25, 2022. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP) (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)

What to make of Saudi Arabia's $96B in foreign direct investment in 2023

Driving foreign investment into key sectors is part of Saudi Arabia's efforts to diversify away from an oil-dependent revenue model.

Starbucks sales see 7% drop, largest since pandemic, amid Gaza boycotts

The company has been grappling with protests and boycott campaigns on social media due to the Israel-Gaza war and the union fight in the United States.

ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP via Getty Images

In Oman visit, Ukraine FM calls for food hub to boost Africa trade

Ukraine’s top diplomat will visit Egypt and other African countries after Oman amid the ongoing war with Russia.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani speak to the media following talks at the Chancellery, Berlin, Germany, May 20, 2022.

Qatari emir in Germany to boost economic ties

According to the German chancellery, Scholz will host the emir at Meseberg Castle, with the meeting focusing on deepening energy, trade and regional security ties.

AFP via Getty Images

Russia-linked LNG tankers transferred to new UAE firm amid sanctions pressure

The three vessels — Velikiy Novgorod, Pskov and La Perouse — were transferred in September to a new Dubai-based company called Matias Ship Management, according to shipping data website Equasis.

United Arab Emirates

An OQ flag.

Oman state energy firm raises $2B from IPO, sultanate's largest ever

OQ raised the funds for its exploration and production business on the local stock exchange.

This picture shows Aramco tower in the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh on April 16, 2023.

What are Aramco’s priorities in Asia after cancelation of Saudi chemical project?

The Saudi oil giant is showing increasing interest in Asia’s petrochemicals market amid the energy transition.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo on Oct. 15, 2024. — Saudi Press Agency

Egypt's Sisi hosts Saudi crown prince as Cairo looks to attract investment

Saudi's crown prince met with Egypt's president in Cairo on Tuesday, where the two oversaw the signing of an investment protection agreement and the creation of the Saudi-Egyptian Supreme Coordination Council.

A picture taken on February 8, 2015, shows the headquarters of Algeria's state-owned energy giant Sonatrach in the capital Algiers.

Algeria's Sonatrach, European partners sign two green hydrogen agreements

Algeria’s Sonatrach has signed two agreements as the country makes a green hydrogen push both for domestic use and for export to Europe.