Energy Markets React to U.S.-Iran Ceasefire; Israel Apologizes for Synagogue Damage

Global energy markets have seen an immediate shift following President Trump’s announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the conflict with Iran. As part of the agreement, Iran has committed to temporarily reopening the Strait of Hormuz under its military management. Petroleum analysts project that U.S. national average gasoline prices, which recently spiked to $4.14 per gallon, could fall below the $4.00 mark within the next seven days, providing much-needed economic relief to the administration. On the diplomatic front, the 11th-hour truce was facilitated by significant mediation from Pakistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir held direct discussions with President Trump, urging a diplomatic off-ramp to avoid further escalation. While the ceasefire holds, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed his forces recently targeted Iranian bridge and rail infrastructure used by the Revolutionary Guard, though these actions preceded the current truce. In a rare humanitarian development, the Israeli military expressed regret for unintended damage caused to a synagogue in Tehran during a mission targeting a high-ranking Iranian commander. This acknowledgment of collateral damage to a religious site comes as U.S. Central Command released cumulative figures for Operation Epic Fury, noting that over 13,000 targets and 155 naval vessels have been hit since the start of the campaign.