BlackMask Breaking News

United States President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that while he is “not happy” with Iran, he has yet to make a decision on Washington’s actions regarding the matter. When asked about using military force against Tehran, the US head of state reiterated that while he wouldn’t like to, “sometimes you have to [use force].” He added that Iran is not saying “the golden words: No nuclear weapons.” Trump once again advised Iran to make a deal, as this would be a “smart” choice. He noted that more talks are expected on Friday. On regime changes in Iran, the US president said that that may or may not happen.

United States President Donald Trump received a briefing on potential military options for Iran from Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), ABC News reported, citing a person close to the president. Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine attended the briefing as the president’s top military adviser, a second person familiar with the discussion told the news agency. The briefing, which took place on Thursday, comes amid renewed indirect nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran in Geneva, where delegations from both countries are trying to avert conflict.

Economists and oil market analysts have hiked their oil price forecasts for 2026 amid rising geopolitical tensions and heightened war premium due to the U.S.-Iran standoff.  Both crude oil benchmarks are now expected to average above $60 per barrel this year, with price forecasts higher by about $1.50 per barrel compared to a month ago, the monthly Reuters poll showed on Friday.  Despite ongoing concerns about an oversupplied market, the 34 analysts and economists surveyed by Reuters in February raised their projections in view of uncertainties in how the Iran crisis would unfold in the coming weeks and months.  In the February poll, Brent Crude prices are expected to average $63.85 per barrel in 2026. This month’s estimate is higher compared to the January forecast of $62.02. The analysts in the poll expect the U.S. benchmark, WTI Crude, to average above $60 per barrel this year, too—at $60.38 a barrel, up from $58.72 expected in January.     Year to date, Brent price have averaged $70.48 per barrel and WTI – $65.01 a barrel.  Early on Friday, both benchmarks were trading 3% higher, with Brent near $73 and WTI at $67, after the United States and Iran adjourned the Thursday talks with plans for another round of negotiations next week.  Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr Albusaidi, who was mediating the indirect talks in Geneva, said the parties had made “significant progress” in the nuclear talks. Next week, negotiations are set to be held in Vienna, Austria.    It is the ongoing U.S.-Iran standoff that has been the main driver of oil analysts in the Reuters poll to raise their oil price forecasts for this year.  Currently, the geopolitical risk premium already baked in the price of oil is about $4-$10 per barrel, analysts say.   The war premium, the OPEC+ supply policy, and the fundamentals in supply-demand balances will steer the direction of oil prices this year, they note.

NN Won’t they be surprised if we hit $100 Brent

 

Crude oil prices rose by more than 1.8% on Friday after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that his country’s delegation will meet the American negotiating team next week for another round of nuclear talks. Meanwhile, United States President Donald Trump was reportedly briefed on potential military options for Iran, following reports of US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, being “disappointed” with the latest negotiating round. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for settlements in April climbed by 1.84% at 5:04 am ET, going for $66.40 per barrel. Meanwhile, Brent for the same month’s deliveries advanced by 1.81% and went for $71.93 a barrel at 5:03 am ET.

USS Gerald R. Ford was spotted leaving the Greek island of Crete on Thursday and reportedly sailing toward the Eastern Mediterranean. The military vessel is rumored to dock at an Israeli port, as Washington continues to increase its military presence in the Middle East. Previously, the US had already deployed another aircraft carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln, to the Arabian Sea, along with three destroyers. Moreover, recent satellite data indicated that strategic bombers, surveillance, and refuelling aircraft have been deployed to the Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean, which US President Donald Trump suggested could be used to strike Iran in case of conflict.

The latest talks in Geneva between the U.S. and Iran on the nuclear issue are ongoing. The U.S. has been increasing military presence in the Gulf as pressure, while both sides are under time constraints to reach a deal. The U.S. wants permanent restrictions, while Iran seeks enrichment rights. The outcome could influence oil markets—a diplomatic solution may ease prices, while escalation could push oil past $100 a barrel.

 

The United States has begun moving another six F-22 stealth fighter jets toward the Middle East, The Times of Israel reported on Wednesday, citing analysts monitoring open-source flight tracking data. According to the report, the new batch of American fighter jets took off earlier today from the US and flew alongside their accompanying refuelling aircraft, heading for the Royal Air Force base at Lakenheath, England. The six additional fighters are expected to be deployed to an Israeli Air Force base in southern Israel, where another 11 F-22 Raptors landed yesterday. The movement of fighter jets comes as the US is building up its military assets in the Middle East, while US President Donald Trump weighs whether to launch strikes against Iran.

American F-22 stealth fighter jets, which departed from the United Kingdom earlier today, landed at an Israeli Air Force base in southern Israel, Israeli media reported on Tuesday, claiming that the total number of US aircraft deployed to the country is 12. According to the reports, the US fighters deployed in Israel are intended to help intercept missiles and drones launched by Iran in case the United States decides to mount a military operation against this Middle Eastern country. The US has been building up its military assets in the Middle East in recent weeks as President Donald Trump weighs whether to take military action against Iran. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that a nuclear deal with Washington is possible if “diplomacy is given priority.”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei dismissed accusations by the United States administration regarding its nuclear and missile programs on Wednesday, calling them propaganda and “the repetition of big lies.” Baqaei wrote on X, “Professional liars are good at creating the ‘illusion of truth’,” adding that repeating falsehoods does not make them valid, citing Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels. He accused the US administration and what he described as the “genocidal Israeli regime” of spreading systematic disinformation about Iran’s nuclear activities, ballistic missiles, and casualty figures during the January unrest. US President Donald Trump, speaking at the State of the Union, said Iran is the “number one sponsor of terror” and warned it is developing missiles that could eventually reach the United States, while stating he prefers diplomacy over military confrontation.

NN: So they want you  to believe its lies. Iran’s hypersonic intercontental rocket  systems in development and in production is for peaceful purposes,  Of course that does not explain the fact Iran constantly threatens the US and Israel with said rockets.

United States President Donald Trump addressed the State of the Union, emphasizing Iran’s nuclear program. He said the US “will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror … to have a nuclear weapon.” Trump added that he prefers to handle the situation through diplomacy, signaling a desire to avoid military confrontation despite maintaining pressure on Tehran. Trump also claimed Iran is advancing missile technology capable of striking US territory. “They’ve already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas and they’re working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America,” he said.

NN: Iran must be stopped