Foreign policy
CNBC Daily Open: Back-to-back gains on Iran peace talks hope
A protester waves an Iranian flag and shouts slogans during a demonstration against US military action in Iran near the White House in Washington, DC, on April 7, 2026. Mandel Ngan | Afp | Getty Images Hello, this is Leonie Kidd writing to you from London. Welcome to another edition of CNBC’s Daily Open. Not […]
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Trump takes aim at Pope Leo again, days after calling him ‘weak on crime’
Pope Leo XIV responds to questions regarding US President Donald Trump’s recent statements during the flight to Algeria on April 13, 2026 in Algiers, Algeria. Matteo Pernaselci | Vatican Pool | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump took aim at Pope Leo XIV again, suggesting that he was unaware of Iran’s repressive actions against its own […]
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U.S. says Hormuz blockade ‘fully implemented,’ while signaling diplomatic off-ramp for Iran
ANKARA, TURKIYE – APRIL 14: An infographic titled “US warships around the Strait of Hormuz” created in Ankara, Turkiye on April 14, 2026. (Photo by Yasin Demirci/Anadolu via Getty Images) Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images The U.S. blockade of Iranian ports is now fully into effect, “completely” cutting off Tehran’s international sea trade that […]
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Trump’s Hormuz blockade puts China, India in crosshairs as U.S. pressure on Iran spills over
Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Altaf Qadri | AP The U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is not only squeezing Iran but also ratcheting up pressure on two of its most consequential relationships in Asia […]
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CNBC Daily Open: S&P 500 nears all-time high
Tourists walk past the U.S. Capitol and are reflected in the window of a parked ambulance on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 14, 2026. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters Hello, this is Dylan Butts writing to you from Singapore. Welcome to another edition of CNBC’s Daily Open. Markets appear to think a deal between […]
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U.S.-Iran talks could restart before ceasefire expires: Reports
U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks to the media before boarding Air Force Two to return to Washington, D.C., after the White House announced he would be leading the U.S. delegation in upcoming peace talks with Iran, from Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport in Budapest, Hungary, April 8, 2026. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters The U.S. […]
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China calls U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz ‘dangerous and irresponsible’
China has called the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz a “dangerous and irresponsible act” that will further enflame tensions in the region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday that the targeted blockade of the vital shipping channel, which began at 10:00 a.m. ET on Monday, coupled with an increase […]
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CNBC Daily Open: Markets bet on a U.S.-Iran deal amid Hormuz blockade
Hello, this is Anniek Bao writing to you from Singapore. Welcome to another edition of CNBC’s Daily Open. The dominant story is still the Strait of Hormuz, and it’s getting more complicated by the hour. Oil has dropped below $100 per barrel on signs that diplomatic efforts for resolving the Mideast conflict are ongoing, even […]
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Vance says ‘the ball is in Iran’s court’ to move peace talks further, as U.S. blockade takes effect
US Vice President JD Vance (R) speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran, as US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner (L) and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff (C) watch, in Islamabad on April 12, 2026. Jacquelyn Martin | Afp | Getty Images Vice President […]
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Trump is blockading Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf. What does that mean?
A navy vessel is seen sailing in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which much of the world’s oil and gas passes on March 1, 2026. Sahar Al Attar | Afp | Getty Images President Donald Trump on Monday rolled out a “blockade” of access to Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf to […]
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