Meanwhile, Trump is sending more troops and warships to the Middle East as Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz remains firmly in place. With the USS Gerald Ford is due to rejoin the Iran war after undergoing repairs in Croatia, there will soon be three carriers in the fight. Still, markets largely rallied over the past week on hopes that the war could end soon, easing supply pressure on global oil markets. While Trump’s statements about negotiations with Iran seem erratic, Maksad said he sees a “clear, discernible” communication strategy. I’m watching the military deployments much closer than I’m actually watching and indexing around what the president is saying.”

Source: The North Africa Journal April 04, 2026 23:53 UTC