{"id":563027,"date":"2026-03-26T22:51:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T22:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/563027\/"},"modified":"2026-03-26T22:51:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T22:51:09","slug":"trump-delays-strait-of-hormuz-deadline-as-wall-street-has-biggest-loss-of-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/563027\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump delays Strait of Hormuz deadline as Wall Street has biggest loss of war"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The army said Thursday that it had deployed another division to Lebanon, adding to a force of thousands sent into the southern part of the country since the war erupted<\/a> more than three weeks ago. The army won\u2019t say how many troops were sent in on Thursday, or in total.<\/p>\n

\u25b6 Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

Trump delays threat to obliterate Iran\u2019s energy plants until April 6<\/p>\n

Trump said Thursday he\u2019ll extend his deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz until April 6, pulling back on his earlier threat to bomb Iran\u2019s energy plants if Tehran didn\u2019t open the critical waterway.<\/p>\n

Iran had threatened to retaliate against the region\u2019s vital infrastructure, like desalination facilities, if Trump followed through.<\/p>\n

Trump said he was holding off on carrying through his threat because talks aimed at ending the conflict are going \u201cvery well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s military says it is short thousands of troops as it fights on multiple fronts<\/p>\n

Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, an Israeli military spokesperson, said Thursday that the army needs about 15,000 soldiers, roughly half of them combat troops, to be at full strength for its multiple missions.<\/p>\n

Israel can call up tens of thousands of reservists, but repeated deployments have prompted past pushback<\/a>, with many citing exhaustion and the financial strain of leaving work and family behind.<\/p>\n

With tens of thousands still deployed in Gaza and more sent to Lebanon, Defrin said Israel expected to broaden operations on several fronts. Defrin also pointed to the occupied West Bank.<\/p>\n

Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the military\u2019s chief of staff, warned last week that the army should not have to divert forces to the West Bank during a multifront war to contend with attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians and unauthorized outposts in military-controlled zones.<\/p>\n

Wall Street has its worst day since the war with Iran started and crude oil prices rise<\/p>\n

Doubt has taken over again on Wall Street about a possible end to the conflict.<\/p>\n

The S&P 500 fell 1.7% Thursday. The index is headed for a fifth straight losing week, which would be the longest such losing streak in almost four years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 2.4%.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re the latest flip-flops for financial markets this week after Iran rejected a U.S. offer for a ceasefire. Oil prices rose more than 4%, and Treasury yields climbed in the bond market.<\/p>\n

\u25b6 Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

UN food and agriculture agency\u2019s top economist warns of serious impact if Iran war lasts 3-6 months<\/p>\n

Maximo Torero said markets will absorb the Iran war\u2019s impact if the conflict ends in the next two weeks or so. But if it continues for three to six months it will not only impact food security and energy but other sectors as well because prices will rise.<\/p>\n

And those rising prices, and the fall in remittances from overseas workers, will affect economic development and growth across the globe, the chief economist for the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization told a U.N. press conference Thursday.<\/p>\n

He said an El Nino climate phenomenon, which tends to increase global temperatures, is also expected soon. A strong El Nino could significantly exacerbate the economic situation, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy message is, we need to find a way to resolve this problem as soon as possible,\u201d Torero said in the video press conference. \u201cBecause, if not, the consequences \u2026 could be very dramatic, even worse that what happened in the Ukraine war.\u201d<\/p>\n

Experts see \u2018different shades\u2019 of Israeli control in southern Lebanon<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first line of borders is a no-man zone. This is basically a large parking lot that is facing Israel,\u201d said Mohanad Hage Ali, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Middle East think tank in Beirut.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is nothing there, no movement, nothing at all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Lebanese movement is restricted farther north. During last year\u2019s olive harvest, farmers struggled to reach groves because of Israeli strikes and had to be accompanied by Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers, who coordinated with Israel.<\/p>\n

Sarit Zehavi, the founder and president of the Alma Institute and a retired Israeli military officer, said Israel will likely establish a more extensive area of control stretching farther north.<\/p>\n

She acknowledged that Israel was unlikely to defeat Hezbollah and was at risk of having to maintain a long-term presence in southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the other alternative is to take the risk that we will be slaughtered. It\u2019s as simple as that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Israel invaded southern Lebanon in 1982 during the country\u2019s civil war. Hezbollah, established that year, waged a guerrilla campaign that eventually ended the Israeli occupation in 2000.<\/p>\n

Lebanon fears another occupation as Israel threatens to use Gaza tactics<\/p>\n

As Israel\u2019s leaders hint at a long-term occupation of southern Lebanon modeled on the devastating conquest of much of Gaza<\/a>, many Lebanese who fled their homes are in limbo.<\/p>\n

Some fear they may never return.<\/p>\n

Elias Konsol and his neighbors fled the Christian border village of Alma al-Shaab with U.N. peacekeepers\u2019 help. He was reunited with his mother, who cried in his arms, at a church near Beirut where funeral services were being held for a resident killed in an Israeli strike.<\/p>\n

Konsol said there were no weapons or Hezbollah fighters in his village, but it was forced to evacuate anyway.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe no longer know our fate,\u201d he said. \u201cWe don\u2019t know if we will see our homes and village again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u25b6 Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

US inflation projected to reach 4.2% this year<\/p>\n

The Iran war\u2019s disruption of oil exports from the Middle East will substantially boost consumer prices while also slowing growth in the United States and many other developed countries, the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Thursday.<\/p>\n

The OECD expects U.S. inflation to jump to an annual average of 4.2% this year, from about 2.6% in 2025. The increase will manly be driven by spiking gas costs, but fertilizer exports have also been interrupted and could raise food prices in coming months, the OECD said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the United States, the impact of higher energy prices on inflation will more than offset the effect from the decline in effective tariff rates on imports,\u201d the OECD\u2019s interim outlook report said.<\/p>\n

Growth is expected to slip to 2% this year from 2.1% in 2025, then decline further next year to 1.7%. In 20 of the largest countries, referred to as the Group of 20, which includes Japan, Europe, and large emerging economies such as Brazil, inflation is forecast to rise to 4% from 3.4%.<\/p>\n

Renewables-rich Spain cuts fuel tax to soften energy blow caused by Iran war<\/p>\n

Even though Spain generated over half its electricity last year from renewable sources, its government is still concerned that a global scarcity of oil and natural gas coming from the Middle East will impact consumers with higher prices at the pump.<\/p>\n

So parliament has approved a package of emergency economic measures, including slashing the sales tax on gas and electricity bills from 21% to 10%. The government estimates that car owners will save 30 cents on the euro for every liter of gas, or around 20 euros per tank.<\/p>\n

Truck drivers, farmers, herders and fishermen will be able to claim refunds of 20 cents per each liter for diesel from the government. The same refund will apply to fertilizers. Spain is also freezing the price of butane and propane.<\/p>\n

The government says the measures total 5 billion euros ($5.7 billion) and will help 20 million of Spain\u2019s 49 million residents.<\/p>\n

Israel adds an armored division to its invasion of southern Lebanon<\/p>\n

The 162nd Division\u2019s deployment is the latest expansion of Israel\u2019s ground offensive against Hezbollah, as senior officials say the army aims to control territory up to the Litani River.<\/p>\n

Israel does not disclose division sizes but previously described three divisions in Gaza as \u201ctens of thousands\u201d of troops.<\/p>\n

The move comes a day after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the country would expand its control and establish a \u201csecurity zone\u201d up to the Litani River. He drew parallels to Gaza, where many areas have been depopulated<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Israeli military has destroyed bridges and homes in southern Lebanon and set up new positions in recent weeks. Lebanon says over 1 million people have been displaced and more than 1,000 people killed.<\/p>\n

France says 35 countries joined military talks on reopening Hormuz shipping<\/p>\n

Thursday\u2019s videoconference of defense staff chiefs focused on how to reopen shipping \u201conce the intensity of hostilities has sufficiently decreased,\u201d France\u2019s Defense Ministry said.<\/p>\n

That could entail a \u201cstrictly defensive\u201d mission to escort commercial vessels and restore freedom of navigation, the ministry said.<\/p>\n

Power outages in some areas of Tehran<\/p>\n

Witnesses told The Associated Press that power is out in some areas of the Iranian capital, although no official reports have been released yet.<\/p>\n

Less than an hour ago, witnesses reported the sounds of heavy strikes and fighter jets overhead.<\/p>\n

Witnesses report more heavy strikes in Tehran<\/p>\n

They also said they heard the sounds of what appeared to be fighter jets flying overhead.<\/p>\n

Trump Cabinet meeting stays mainly focused on Iran war<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s first Cabinet meeting since the start of the Iran war ran an hour and 40 minutes. But unlike past meetings of this kind, the president kept it largely focused on the war.<\/p>\n

Trump usually gives every Cabinet member time to speak, but on Thursday he limited speakers to himself, Vance, Rubio, Hegseth, Bessent, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.<\/p>\n

Still, Trump weighed in on a few unrelated topics, such as his choice of writing implements, a construction project at the Federal Reserve that he thinks costs too much, and lawsuits pending to stop him from closing the Kennedy Center performing arts venue for a two-year renovation project.<\/p>\n

Trump sidesteps question about his deadline for Iran to open Strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n

Asked whether he\u2019s sticking to a five-day delay he announced on Monday, Trump said \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, the president said it depends on whether his team tells him talks with Iran are \u201cgoing along\u201d or not.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a lot of time,\u201d Trump said. \u201cIt\u2019s a day. In Trump time, a day- you know what it is? That\u2019s an eternity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump threatened to strike Iranian power plants starting Monday unless the strait was fully reopened. He said the deadline was pushed back to negotiate a deal.<\/p>\n

Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill another 22 people and wound 110 in the past 24 hours<\/p>\n

The total number of people killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon since the outbreak of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war has risen to 1,116, with 3,229 wounded, Lebanon\u2019s health ministry said Thursday.<\/p>\n

The death toll includes 121 children and 83 women. More than 1 million people have been displaced in Lebanon by the conflict.<\/p>\n

The Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired missiles across the border into Israel on March 2, two days after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. Israel has since launched widespread airstrikes and a ground invasion of Lebanon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Missile fire from Lebanon killed an Israeli man in a city on the northern coast<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s Magen David Adom emergency service says a man in his 30s was killed by shrapnel from a missile strike in Nahariya following a barrage from Lebanon.<\/p>\n

It said medics treated a man in his 50s who was in moderate to serious condition, and three people who were lightly wounded.<\/p>\n

Ukraine\u2019s president arrives in Saudi Arabia after offering anti-drone help<\/p>\n

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Saudi Arabia on an unannounced visit, days after revealing that Ukraine is helping five countries in the Middle East counter attacks on their territory by drones amid the Iran war.<\/p>\n

Ukraine has grown into one of the world\u2019s leading producers of cutting-edge, battle-tested drone interceptors that are cheap and effective.<\/p>\n

\u201cArrived in Saudi Arabia. Important meetings are scheduled,\u201d the Ukrainian leader said on X Thursday along with video of his arrival. \u201cWe appreciate the support and support those who are ready to work with us to ensure security.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zelenskyy said last week that Ukrainian officials are helping Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan with drone expertise and helping build a defense system.<\/p>\n

Trump says US \u2018doesn\u2019t need the Hormuz Strait\u2019<\/p>\n

Asked by a reporter how close he was to marshaling a coalition of partners to help protect tankers moving through the strait, Trump said the U.S. has \u201cso much oil \u2014 our country is not affected by this.\u201d<\/p>\n

The narrow waterway<\/a> typically sees a fifth of the world\u2019s oil exit the Persian Gulf through it to reach customers worldwide, particularly in Asia<\/a>, and blockages there have sent oil prices near $120 per barrel at times.<\/p>\n

And although it\u2019s true that the United States doesn\u2019t get a massive percentage of its oil from resources moving through the strait, the price of oil is set on the global market.<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s stranglehold on the waterway has raised prices at the pump for drivers the world over. The nationwide average price of gas is up more than a dollar from just a month earlier.<\/p>\n

Trump is not ready to seek suspension of federal gas tax to help ease prices at the pump<\/p>\n

Asked by a reporter about that option during the Cabinet meeting, Trump said, \u201cwe\u2019ve thought about it, I guess\u201d and suggested that states suspend their taxes on fuel.<\/p>\n

He segued into talking about the stock market and was asked again about the possibility of suspending the federal gas tax, which is 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel fuel. That does not include state taxes, which often are higher.<\/p>\n

Trump cannot suspend the federal tax on his own; Congress would have to approve.<\/p>\n

But he indicated he wasn\u2019t ready to go that route at the federal level at this time.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s something we have in our pocket if we think it\u2019s necessary,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n

Trump calls the German president\u2019s condemnation of his actions in Iran \u2018inappropriate\u2019<\/p>\n

In a speech on Tuesday, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Trump\u2019s aggression against Iran was a \u201cdangerous mistake\u201d in violation of international law.<\/p>\n

Taking questions from reporters during Thursday\u2019s Cabinet meeting, Trump likened Steinmeier\u2019s statement to the U.S. assistance to Ukraine in its war with Russia, which he said was \u201cnot our war, we helped, but Ukraine\u2019s done well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump, who as he campaigned for a second term said repeatedly he could swiftly end the Russia-Ukraine war, added, \u201cif I can solve that, it will be a great honor to do it. I wish it could have gone faster.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump claims Iran allowing Pakistan-flagged tankers through strait in sign of good faith for talks<\/p>\n

Trump earlier this week cryptically said that Iran \u201cgave us a present.\u201d He revealed the gift during Thursday\u2019s Cabinet meeting.<\/p>\n

Trump said that Iranian officials, with whom the U.S. is engaging in back-channel talks, are allowing \u201ceight boats of oil\u201d to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting it was an apparent act of good faith for negotiations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I guess we\u2019re dealing with the right people,\u201d said Trump, who indicated the tankers are operating under Pakistani flags.<\/p>\n

Israeli military says it has sent another division into Lebanon, expanding its operation against Hezbollah<\/p>\n

The announcement comes a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is expanding an area it controls along southern Lebanon\u2019s border with Israel, as Israeli troops push through more villages in the area and fight with Iran-allied Hezbollah militants.<\/p>\n

Israel has moved several thousand troops into southern Lebanon in recent weeks in what it says is a defensive move to protect its northern border communities from Hezbollah rocket and drone fire.<\/p>\n

Israel occupied southern Lebanon from 1982 until 2000. Hezbollah was formed in the 1980s as a guerrilla force fighting that occupation.<\/p>\n

Sirens in Israel<\/p>\n

Sirens sounded across central Israel and Jerusalem after the military reported a missile launch from Iran.<\/p>\n

Senior Hezbollah official condemns Lebanese government\u2019s decision to expel Iranian ambassador<\/p>\n

Mahmoud Qamati made the remarks at a protest beside Iran\u2019s Embassy in the southern suburbs of Beirut, where dozens of people gathered waving Hezbollah and Iranian flags.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmbassador (Mohammad Reza) Sheibani, the ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran, will stay in Lebanon and will not leave Lebanon no matter how much you try,\u201d Qamati said in a speech, condemning Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji, a staunch opponent of Hezbollah, who made the decision to order the diplomat to leave.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t play with fire, because this fire will burn you, your people, and those behind you,\u201d Qamati said.<\/p>\n

Hezbollah is Iran\u2019s key ally in Lebanon, and since the group\u2019s inception in 1982 it has relied heavily on Tehran for weapons and financial support.<\/p>\n

Bessent says Strait of Hormuz not a \u2018choke point\u2019 and that tanker ship traffic will increase<\/p>\n

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Iran, by restricting oil and natural gas shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, is \u201ctrying to take control of the global economy through a choke point that we believe does not exist.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bessent\u2019s phrasing was misleading, as the Strait of Hormuz is critical for global shipments of oil and natural gas, especially for Asia, and energy prices have increased since the war with Iran began.<\/p>\n

Still, Bessent said that more tankers are making it through the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am confident that shipping traffic will continue to increase on a daily basis, even before we secure\u201d the strait, Bessent said.<\/p>\n

Explosions boom in Tehran<\/p>\n

Witnesses heard repeated explosions across most parts of Iran\u2019s capital, along with the activation of air defense systems. Very large blasts are also being reported.<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s son-in-law says US negotiators ignore Iranians\u2019 public statements<\/p>\n

Speaking at a Saudi investment summit in Florida, Jared Kushner on Thursday echoed sentiments made by his negotiating partner Steve Witkoff in dismissing Iranians\u2019 public statements, saying it\u2019s often different from what is being communicated behind closed doors.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one thing with the Iranians, and we\u2019re seeing this even now, is you have to … just ignore a lot of what they say publicly, because I think that their statements are usually more for their domestic audiences,\u201d Kushner, who has been volunteering as a U.S. peace envoy, told the audience at a Future Investment Initiative summit in Miami.<\/p>\n

His comments came shortly before Witkoff spoke at Trump\u2019s Cabinet meeting, where he said that despite Iranians assertions that there is no communication with Washington during the ongoing war, the U.S. has presented a 15-point \u201caction list\u201d where there is a \u201cpossibility\u201d for a deal between the longtime adversaries.<\/p>\n

Did Rubio do a Chuck D callback while talking about Iran?<\/p>\n

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is a noted fan of 1990s rap.<\/p>\n

During Thursday\u2019s Cabinet meeting, his remarks appeared to borrow a bit from Public Enemy\u2019s \u201cWelcome to the Terrordome.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chuck D raps in the track off of the eponymous album \u201cFear of a Black Planet,\u201d \u201cI got so much trouble on my mind\/ I refuse to lose\/Here\u2019s your ticket\/Hear the drummer get wicked\/The crew to you to push the back to Black.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rubio, Trump\u2019s chief diplomat, offered, \u201cBut every day the Department of War lets the drummer get wicked over every portion of Iran that has these military capabilities, and the results are going to bear fruit for the world,\u201d Rubio said.<\/p>\n

The Associated Press<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The army said Thursday that it had deployed another division to Lebanon, adding to a force of thousands…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":563028,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[45,49,48,1376,46,5897,1258,8723,9891,167866,172000],"class_list":["post-563027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-economy","tag-business","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-donald-trump","tag-economy","tag-iran","tag-israel","tag-lebanon","tag-oil-prices","tag-southern-lebanon","tag-strait-of-hormuz"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/563027","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=563027"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/563027\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/563028"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=563027"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=563027"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=563027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}