Iran closes Strait of Hormuz after US maintains blockade, raising oil shock concerns
via Business News2 min read
The situation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz has escalated again after contradictory statements from Washington and Tehran. On Friday, April 17, 2026, Iranian authorities announced the full reopening of the strait during ongoing negotiations, a move seemingly confirmed by US President Donald Trump, who acknowledged the resumption of commercial navigation. However, Trump also stated that the naval blockade on Iranian ports would remain, citing it as leverage in discussions, particularly concerning Tehran's nuclear program. This decision prompted a strong reaction from Iran. On Saturday, April 18, the Khatam Al-Anbiya operational command, in a statement relayed by official media, denounced the blockade as an act of "piracy" and declared that the Strait of Hormuz had returned to its "previous state," now under the "strict management and control of the armed forces." Tehran is now conditioning any effective reopening on the lifting of the American blockade, demanding the restoration of "complete freedom of navigation" for vessels to and from its ports. This reversal immediately revives uncertainties about the real status of this essential maritime route, through which nearly 20% of global oil supplies transited before the tensions. This sequence highlights a fundamental divergence: Washington speaks of opening the strait while maintaining maximum economic pressure, while Tehran believes this opening is meaningless as long as its own commercial flows remain obstructed. In a cont
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Amidst widespread power cuts and a heatwave, Tunisia's National Agency for Energy Management ANME highlighted the increasing number of air conditioners and their impact on electricity consumption. This statement, relayed by Agence TAP on Friday, July 17, comes as public criticism focuses on the management of the national electricity grid. The timing of the declaration is notable, as power outages have increased across the country, with temperatures exceeding 45掳C in some areas. Residents are experiencing repeated interruptions, affecting air conditioning, refrigeration, and sometimes even drinking water. Critics point to a lack of investment and anticipation for recurrent consumption peaks. Abdelkader Baccouche, director of energy efficiency in the building sector at ANME, presented data showing air conditioners are now the second-largest electricity consumer in households, up from third place in 2019. Approximately one million new air conditioners have been installed in five years, bringing the national total to nearly 2.7 million units, with over half of Tunisian households owning at least one. ANME estimates these appliances account for about 18% of residential electricity consumption and roughly 50% of peak summer demand. The peak electricity consumption reached 4.8 gigawatts in July 2024. Refrigerators remain the most energy-intensive appliances, accounting for an estimated 36% of consumption. While these figures illustrate the growing impact of air conditioning, they do
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The Confederation of Citizen Enterprises of Tunisia Conect expressed concern on Friday, July 17, 2026, regarding the impact of scheduled power cuts on economic activity. The organization believes these interruptions cause significant losses for businesses and advocates for improved information dissemination and a sustainable strategy to enhance energy security. Conect states that the cuts affect companies across all sectors and regions, leading to direct and indirect losses from production halts, activity slowdowns, and damage to industrial, electrical, and electronic equipment. This situation, according to Conect, negatively impacts business productivity, reduces competitiveness, and harms the investment climate. While acknowledging efforts by the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company Steg to inform the public, Conect notes that the information provided is often insufficiently precise regarding affected areas, schedules, and estimated durations. This lack of clarity prevents businesses from organizing activities and taking preventive measures. Conect calls for strengthening the prior information system with more precise and regularly updated data on affected sectors, schedules, and estimated durations, and recommends more effective communication channels. Conect believes that improved communication alone is not enough and advocates for a concerted approach involving dialogue and coordination among Steg, public authorities, and relevant stakeholders to develop sustainable solu