Strait spent 1 day open after negotiations between the US and Iran, but the US blockade prompted a new Persian reaction
Oil began trading at US$ 95.21 this Monday (April 20, 2026), 1.9% below that recorded on Sunday (April 19) when the price soared 7% with the resumption of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by the Iranian army. On Friday (April 17), the value of the commodity had plummeted by 9.1%
The maritime route was open for navigation by commercial vessels between Friday (April 17) and Saturday (April 18), but after negotiations between the United States and Iran did not prosper.
The Iranian argument is that even with the ceasefire agreed on April 8, the US Navy maintained a naval blockade against Persian vessels. According to the Iranian government, maintaining the siege constitutes a breach of the initial agreement.
Iran announced that it would resume strict control over the passage of ships through Hormuz on Saturday (18 April). On the same day, Iranian ships opened fire on vessels in the region and prevented the passage of at least 2 cargo ships.
The president of the USA, (Republican Party), reacted to the attacks and accused the Iranians of having broken the ceasefire. On Sunday (19 April), the US Navy in the Gulf of Oman. According to the republican, the vessel was trying to escape the naval blockade imposed in the Strait of Hormuz.
ASIAN STOCK EXCHANGES SUPPORT VOLATILITY
Asian stock markets – the most vulnerable to instability in the Middle East – opened higher this Monday (20 April). The continent’s main indices showed a slight increase, with some achieving growth above 1% compared to Friday (April 17).
Read below how the main Asian stock exchanges reacted this Monday (April 20):
- Shanghai (China): 0.58%;
- CSI 1000 (China): 0.40%;
- SZE Component (China): 0,45%;
- Hang Seng (Hong Kong): 0.81%;
- Nikkei 225 (Japan): 0.95%;
- Kospi (South Korea): 1.15%;
- IDX Composite (Indonesia): 0.22%;
- Nifty 50 (India): -0.46%;
