WS #6948

The Iran-US conflict continues to escalate, with multiple sources confirming new developments. Iran has formally responded to the US peace proposal via Pakistan, while drone strikes and attacks are reported across UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Iraq, including a South Korean ship hit in the Strait of Hormuz. The US Army confirms over 20 warships are blockading Iran. Trump states military operations are ongoing, and Netanyahu says the war continues over nuclear and proxy concerns. Hezbollah is teasing new drone attacks and claimed a guided missile strike on Israeli forces. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint, keeping oil prices elevated. Separately, the US Energy Secretary floats a pause in the federal gas tax, which could counter some inflationary pressure from oil. Putin's statement that the Russia-Ukraine war may soon end is a potential de-escalation signal for European geopolitical risk. Google and PayPal executives declared that encrypted crypto payments will be the foundation of future AI agent commerce, launching the Agentic Payments Protocol (AP2), which could boost crypto-related stocks. Berkshire Hathaway reported record cash and tight underwriting, with +20% buybacks, signaling capital return strength.