Friday, March 13, 2026

Meridian

Your daily news, distilled.

7.8

The Big Signal

Oil Prices Hit $100 once again, this time at close, as Iran Vows to Keep Strait of Hormuz Shut

•Oil prices have reached near or above $100 per barrel, with Brent crude hitting its highest close since August 2022 amid what Bloomberg called one of the most volatile trading weeks ever.
•Iran has vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut and threatened to attack oil resources across the Middle East, according to multiple sources.
•The US energy secretary confirmed the military cannot yet escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, according to France24.
•Asian stock and bond markets declined as investors feared sustained energy supply disruptions and rising inflation.

7.8

•The IEA has warned that the Middle East war is creating the largest oil supply disruption on record, surpassing the 1970s crisis in scale.
•Iran has launched attacks against Gulf energy targets, sending oil prices above $100 per barrel.
•A coordinated release of 400 million barrels from emergency reserves has failed to stabilize markets or ease supply fears.
•Gulf states face severe economic strain from rising defense costs and near-zero oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz.
•The conflict has exposed the depth of global dependence on Gulf oil and gas, triggering energy price shocks worldwide.

7.7

•Iran has reportedly laid mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial point for global oil transit.
•Approximately 20% of the world's oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, exacerbating the impact of disruptions.
•The blockade by Iran has already led to the destruction of multiple oil tankers, raising concerns about global economic stability.
•President Trump faces strategic challenges in addressing the immediate threat while considering long-term geopolitical implications.

7.4

•NASA has scheduled the Artemis II launch for a six-day window opening April 1, 2026, after postponing earlier February and March opportunities.
•The mission will send four astronauts on a lunar orbital journey, the first crewed trip to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.

6.9

•The law focuses on protecting minors from online content that could harm them mentally or physically.
•A social media addiction trial is concluding, with jurors deliberating the liability of platforms like Facebook.