Trump and Iran might lift oil prices, for now
Don't bet against the president's imminent Iran decision lifting oil prices. But don't expect the rally to last either
Predicting what a stable genius will do next is no easy thing. But now the oil market must wait again on Donald Trump, who will decide this week what to do about US participation in the Iran nuclear deal. The timing of his decision, due on 12 January, whether to decertify the agreement again is awkward—for Trump, Iran and the oil market. Trump's fighting his own local fires, including the fallout from Michael Wolff's fly-on-the-wall book, the Russia investigation and North Korea. Protestors in Iran remain on the streets, despite the Revolutionary Guard's claim to have suppressed the unrest. And the oil market, after a lengthy rally, has paused for breath. Brent was trading in London at almos
Also in this section
13 March 2026
Brussels is again weighing a cap on gas prices amid the Hormuz crisis, but the measure could backfire by deterring the LNG cargoes Europe urgently needs
12 March 2026
Emergency oil stocks provide a last line of defence to oil market shocks, so the IEA’s unprecedented 400m bl release represents something of a double-edged sword
12 March 2026
LPG could rapidly expand access to clean cooking across Africa and prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths from indoor air pollution each year, but infrastructure shortages and regulatory barriers are slowing investment and market growth
11 March 2026
Missiles over Dubai and disruption in Hormuz are testing the emirate’s reputation—and shaking the energy hub at the centre of the Gulf economy
