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מעקב משבר איראן-המפרץ 2026
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strikeAug 18, 2026

CNBC Daily Open: Markets caught between Mideast worries and AI optimism

Summary

- Trump has threatened to "bomb the s--- out of" U.S. ally Oman if the Gulf nation "gets in the way." - Markets were expectedly spooked, with oil rising and stocks falling. - Nvidia will provide up to $105 billion in financing for a new AI data center for OpenAI. - Meta could face "astronomical" consequences as the company faces a lawsuit in California. Hello, this is Hui Jie writing to you from Singapore. Welcome to another edition of CNBC's Daily Open. Chinese strategist Sun Tzu said that "the supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting." U.S. President Donald Trump seems to differ, threatening to fight everyone at the same time. While Trump wants a free Strait of Hormuz, he has now warned that Oman — which also borders the critical waterway — could face military action. What you need to know today The U.S.-Iran conflict is into its sixth month, and despite several promises of a deal and start-stop negotiations, the war in the Middle East now threatens to restart and drag more countries into its fold. On Monday stateside, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to "bomb the s--- out of" Oman if the Gulf nation "gets in the way." Oman has reportedly been working with Iran on a plan to define transit routes for shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. When asked again about Oman, Trump said the longtime U.S. strategic ally hasn't "behaved very well." That statement comes as a ceasefire deal that was agreed between Washington and Tehran in June expires Monday stateside, with neither country showing any inclination to extend the deal. "No," Trump said when asked if he would seek an extension of that temporary truce, while a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran would shift to offense rather than relying on defense if diplomacy with the U.S. fails. Markets were expectedly spooked by the development, with oil prices climbing once again. International benchmark Brent rose 2.7% to settle at $90.87 Monday, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures gained 2.6% to close at $84.50 per barrel. Oil was higher early Tuesday in Asia trading. All three major U.S. indexes also lost ground, with the broad market S&P 500 slipping 0.5%, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.32% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 0.51%. Asia markets opened mixed Tuesday. Tech deals and lawsuits Chip giant Nvidia will provide up to $105 billion in financing for a new artificial intelligence data center for OpenAI in Ohio, a securities filing revealed on Monday. The credit will support an initial 4.25 gigawatts of computing capacity with the option for an additional 3.75 gigawatts. Nvidia will provide the compute, with capacity expected to come online in phases in 2028. The deal is Nvidia's latest in a string of financing maneuvers to support the sprawling AI data center buildout, despite concerns over circular financing in the AI trade. Moving from the boardroom to the courtroom, social media heavyweight Meta could face "astronomical" consequences as the company faces a lawsuit in California, following a litany of allegations that the company fostered addictive behavior in teens and children. Industry experts are calling it social media's "Big Tobacco" moment, with Meta as the centerpiece. The term refers to when tobacco companies in the 1990s were forced to pay billions of dollars for misleading the public about the safety and potential harms of their products, and subsequently saw their power and influence dramatically diminished. And finally... Disney’s new parks boss outlines investment strategy, with superfans at the fore "We are bringing the yeti back to life," Thomas Mazloum, chairman of Disney Experiences, announced to 12,000 Disney parks fans Saturday night during the division's showcase in Anaheim, California. Mazloum announced the yeti repair — as well as the return of fan-favorite characters Dreamfinder and Figment to Epcot in Florida and an overhaul of Tomorrowland in California — to some of Disney's most ardent fans on Saturday. It's a signal of where the company plans to put its focus for the blockbuster Disney Experiences unit, made up of theme parks, cruise lines and consumer goods sales. As Disney expands its reach, it will need to lean on its most loyal attendees and biggest spenders to counter macroeconomic uncertainties and challenging travel trends. — Sarah Whitten

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Sources

  • Lim Hui JieBy Lim Hui Jie

    - Trump has threatened to "bomb the s--- out of" U.S. ally Oman if the Gulf nation "gets in the way." - Markets were expectedly spooked, with oil rising and stocks falling. - Nvidia will provide up to $105 billion in financing for a new AI data center for OpenAI. - Meta could fac

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TEHRAN: Iran's armed forces on Wednesday (Aug 19) warned Gulf countries against assisting the United States military, saying it would be tantamount to joining American military operations. "We wish to warn that any assistance or facilitation provided to the aggressor US military amounts to participation in the US military operation," armed forces chief of staff Ali Abdollahi said, according to Iran's Mehr news agency.

War between Iran and the US broke out on Feb 28 after US-Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic, which retaliated with missile and drone strikes including on US bases across the region. "It seems unlikely that such a large number of military aircraft, particularly refuelling aircraft, could be present at regional bases without knowledge of host countries," said Abdollahi.

"The countries bordering the Persian Gulf, which have issued various statements saying they would not allow the US to use their territory against Iran, should know that we are fully aware of the situation." The warning comes as the USS George Washington aircraft carrier is being redeployed to the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln following reports of deteriorating living conditions for its crew.

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The Iran conflict has highlighted divergences between the United States and Israel regarding the political conditions and timing for concluding military operations, despite extensive tactical coordination. While U.S. forces recently paused strikes as diplomatic efforts intensified, the episode suggests a lack of established mechanisms for managing escalation and campaign termination.

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FTSE 100 Live: Stocks to fall as oil jumps after Trump claims Strait of Hormuz Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Oil prices are surging higher for the fourth consecutive session after Donald Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz as US territory. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – was climbing towards $92 as there was little indication the narrow waterway was to be reopened, keeping pressure on supply.

It comes after Trump shared a crude map of the Middle East with a large blue circle over Hormuz on Truth Social as he declared the vital shipping route as “NEW US territory”. “The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect”, the President said.

“The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated”. Concerns around shipping through the strait has remained high despite Trump’s claim that the waterway is open and mines have been cleared. Limited traffic has continued to pass through the strategic route while Iranian forces have intensified hostilities.

Eight attacks on vessels transiting Hormuz, including ships linked to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have been reported so far this month. In the US, crude inventories have fallen by 328,000 barrels over last week, following an over 9m barrel increase in the previous week.

Trump confirmed earlier this week that there are “no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled” with Iran. Meanwhile his US Special Envoy Jared Kushner, who is also the President’s son-in-law, said Iran is ”not showing any interest” in a deal proposed by the Trump administration.

We’ll be bringing you all the latest analysis and updates.

Location: Strait of Hormuz