Trump-Iran Interim Agreement Extends Ceasefire as G7 Leaders Welcome Path to Peace 
Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire Takes Effect Amid Rising Tensions Over U.S.-Iran Deal 
IRGC Expands Secret Iraq Cells to Target Gulf States Hosting U.S. Forces 
Trump Questions USMCA Renewal as Trade Talks Continue 
US Stock Futures Jump on Reports of Preliminary US-Iran Peace Deal Despite Fed’s Hawkish Outlook 
Oil Prices Ease as Markets Weigh U.S.-Iran Peace Deal and Strait of Hormuz Reopening 
Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Truce Uncertainty and Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Trump and Iran Sign Framework Peace Deal in France Amid Ongoing Middle East Tensions 
Flavio Bolsonaro Unveils Tough Crime Plan Ahead of Brazil Election 
Colombia Opens New Investigation Into Former President Álvaro Uribe Over Paramilitary Allegations 
Trump Says Anthropic No Longer Seen as National Security Threat 
Zelenskiy Backs Lula’s Peace Initiative as Ukraine Seeks New Diplomatic Path to End War 
Asian Stocks Advance as Nikkei Nears Record High Ahead of Fed Decision 
US Stock Futures Slip After Wall Street Rally Fueled by US-Iran Deal and Chipmaker Surge 
U.S.-Iran Talks Resume in Switzerland as Lebanon Ceasefire Boosts Hopes for Lasting Deal 
Asian Currencies Steady as Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Fed Decision and US-Iran Deal Details 
US Raises Concerns Over Possible ASML EUV Machine Transfer to China 
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a significant diplomatic call Thursday with Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, signaling Washington's commitment to regional energy stability as conflict with Iran continues to disrupt global oil markets.
During the conversation, Rubio formally acknowledged the Kurdistan Regional Government's critical role in keeping Iraqi oil — including crude from the Kurdistan Region — flowing to international markets. The recognition comes at a pivotal moment, as the ongoing Iran war has sent oil prices surging and rattled financial markets worldwide.
Rubio also extended his condolences to the families of Peshmerga fighters killed in a recent Iranian ballistic missile strike. At least six Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers died and approximately 30 others were wounded when six Iranian ballistic missiles struck a Peshmerga military headquarters located north of Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan on March 24. Kurdish officials condemned the assault as a deliberate and unprovoked act of aggression against their forces.
The broader conflict traces back to February 28, when U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes against Iran. Tehran retaliated by targeting Israel and Gulf states hosting American military installations. Since then, continued joint U.S.-Israeli operations in Iran and Israeli military campaigns in Lebanon have resulted in thousands of casualties, deepening the humanitarian toll across the region.
President Donald Trump has offered evolving objectives throughout the conflict — from dismantling Iran's missile capabilities to pursuing regime change. On Thursday, Trump again declared that his side has gained the upper hand in the war, though the situation on the ground remains fluid and complex.
As diplomatic engagement intensifies across the Middle East, the Kurdistan Region continues to serve as both a strategic energy partner and a frontline stakeholder in one of the most volatile geopolitical crises in recent memory.
