18 April 2026
Smoke rising near Syzran oil refinery as result of drone strikes
Drones have attacked Vysotsk port in Leningrad region
Oil refinery in Novokuybyshevsk of Samara region of Russia is on fire as result of drone strike
Hormuz is open, but US Naval Blockade will remain in full force says US President Donald Trump
Iranian Foreign Minister: In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran
Power blackout at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear power plant for the 2nd time in several days
Another fuel reservoir exploded in Tuapse
Oil depot was attacked in Bakhchysarai overnight
Substation "Yuzhnaya" is on fire near Belgorod
Fire at the oil refinery in Tuapse after explosions overnight
Bessent says U.S. won't be renewing waivers for Iranian and Russian oil
Russia's GDP contracted by 1.8% in January-February, -Putin said
3 day ago
North Korea is showing a "very serious increase" in its ability to produce nuclear weapons, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says
The U.S. Department of the Treasury sent a letter to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hong Kong, China, and Oman advising them of banks within their jurisdiction that have allowed, potentiated, and benefited from Iranian illicit activity and asked them to take swift action against them and cease these activities. The letter, shared by Al-Monitor’s diplomatic correspondent Elizabeth Hagedorn, is the latest in a slew of Treasury actions relating to Iran
The Trump administration eased financial sanctions on Venezuela to stabilize its struggling economy and address protests against low wages. This change allows major state banks, including the Banco Central de Venezuela, to use U.S. dollars, access oil revenues
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee said interest-rate cuts may be pushed back by the surge in energy prices due to the Iran War
Trump: Europe is desperate for Energy, and yet the United Kingdom refuses to open North Sea Oil, one of the greatest fields in the World. Tragic... Aberdeen should be booming. Norway sells its North Sea Oil to the U.K. at double the price. They are making a fortune. U.K., which is better situated on the North Sea for purposes of energy than Norway, should, DRILL, BABY, DRILL... It is absolutely crazy that they don’t… AND, NO MORE WINDMILLS
Two ships from Iran are crossing the Strait of Hormuz despite the US blockade. Source: Kpler intelligence
Explosions were reported at the substation near Melitopol
Joint statement from the IMF, World Bank and the IEA: The impact of the war is large, global and extremely disproportionate
The price of physical crude oil cargoes for prompt delivery to Europe hit a record high near $150 a barrel on Monday and those for Africa hit new peaks, according to LSEG data and traders
4 day ago
The U.S. military has started a blockade of ships entering or leaving Iran's ports, after weekend talks on ending the war broke down
Peter Magyar told reporters today that the outgoing Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó, who had disappeared since yesterday's election, has resurfaced at the Foreign Ministry today and is shredding documents related to sanctions
Explosions were reported in Cherepovets
British Prime Minister Starmer: It is essential to open the Strait of Hormuz and we do not support imposing a blockade on it.
ASEAN statement: We call for the restoration of safe, continuous, and unimpeded passage of ships and aircraft through the Strait of Hormuz.
5 day ago
Malaysia's maritime authorities detained two tankers and its crew members suspected of conducting an illegal ship-to-ship diesel transfer off Penang, in one of the latest crackdowns on illicit fuel activities in the country's waters
.@POTUS: "At 10a tomorrow, we have a blockade going into effect — that'll be 10a tomorrow. Other nations are working, so that Iran will not be able to sell oil and that will be very effective
Financial Times, citing informed sources: Britain will not participate in imposing a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz
"Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz." - President Donald J. Trump