Pezeshkian Says Middle East Has No Need for US 'Policeman'
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that the Middle East does not need the United States as a 'regional policeman,' speaking on the sidelines of a BRICS summit in India. He said regional security can only be guaranteed by the region's main players. Iran has been at war since February 28 and blockaded the Strait of Hormuz; the blockade continues to drive up oil prices, which soared past $100 a barrel this week.
Why it matters: This matters for the energy markets theme: the Strait of Hormuz blockade continues to drive oil prices above $100 a barrel.