{"id":60313,"date":"2026-03-29T21:38:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T01:38:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-threatens-seizure-of-irans-kharg-island-as-oil-prices-surge-global-markets-plunge-on-war-fears\/60313\/"},"modified":"2026-03-29T21:38:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T01:38:15","slug":"trump-threatens-seizure-of-irans-kharg-island-as-oil-prices-surge-global-markets-plunge-on-war-fears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-threatens-seizure-of-irans-kharg-island-as-oil-prices-surge-global-markets-plunge-on-war-fears\/60313\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump Threatens Seizure of Iran\u2019s Kharg Island as Oil Prices Surge; Global Markets Plunge on War Fears"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-threatens-seizure-of-irans-kharg-island-as-oil-prices-surge-global-markets-plunge-on-war-fears\/60313\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-threatens-seizure-of-irans-kharg-island-as-oil-prices-surge-global-markets-plunge-on-war-fears\/60313\/#Energy_Markets_React_to_Iranian_Escalation\" >Energy Markets React to Iranian Escalation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-threatens-seizure-of-irans-kharg-island-as-oil-prices-surge-global-markets-plunge-on-war-fears\/60313\/#Global_Equities_and_Currencies_Under_Pressure\" >Global Equities and Currencies Under Pressure<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-threatens-seizure-of-irans-kharg-island-as-oil-prices-surge-global-markets-plunge-on-war-fears\/60313\/#Fixed_Income_and_Safe_Haven_Flows\" >Fixed Income and Safe Haven Flows<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-threatens-seizure-of-irans-kharg-island-as-oil-prices-surge-global-markets-plunge-on-war-fears\/60313\/#Corporate_Developments_and_Trade_Shifts\" >Corporate Developments and Trade Shifts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-threatens-seizure-of-irans-kharg-island-as-oil-prices-surge-global-markets-plunge-on-war-fears\/60313\/#Diplomatic_and_Domestic_Updates\" >Diplomatic and Domestic Updates<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Brent crude futures surged over $4 to a high of $116.71 per barrel<\/strong> following reports that U.S. President Donald <a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/live\/trump-stock-market\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Trump\">Trump<\/a> is considering the seizure of Iran\u2019s <strong>Kharg Island<\/strong> to secure oil supplies.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Japan\u2019s equity markets plummeted 5%<\/strong> as investors reacted to the escalating threat of a ground war in the Middle East and persistent yen volatility.<\/li>\n<li><strong>U.S. Treasury yields fell across the curve<\/strong>, with the 10-year yield dropping to <strong>4.4038%<\/strong>, as a &quot;flight to safety&quot; move dominated global bond markets.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The WTO e-commerce moratorium has officially ended<\/strong>, according to senior officials, marking a historic shift that could allow nations to begin imposing duties on digital transmissions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Eli Lilly (<a href=\"\/stock\/LLY\">LLY<\/a>)<\/strong> expanded its footprint in Asia with a <strong>$2 billion deal<\/strong> for AI-driven drug development with a Hong Kong-based biotech firm.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Energy_Markets_React_to_Iranian_Escalation\"><\/span>Energy Markets React to Iranian Escalation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Global energy markets are in a state of high alarm as <strong>Brent crude<\/strong> prices re-test early-war highs, reaching <strong>$116.71 per barrel<\/strong>. The spike followed a <em>Financial Times<\/em> report stating that President Donald <a href=\"https:\/\/thestockmarketwatch.com\/live\/trump-stock-market\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Trump\">Trump<\/a> is weighing the seizure of <strong>Kharg Island<\/strong>, the primary terminal for Iranian oil exports.<\/p>\n<p>The geopolitical tension intensified as reports emerged of Tehran targeting water and power infrastructure in <strong>Kuwait<\/strong>. Despite the aggressive rhetoric, Trump claimed on social media that Iran has already &quot;gave&quot; the U.S. most of its demands in a potential peace plan, though market participants remain skeptical as the conflict escalates.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Global_Equities_and_Currencies_Under_Pressure\"><\/span>Global Equities and Currencies Under Pressure<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Asian markets bore the brunt of the geopolitical fallout on Monday. <strong>Japan\u2019s Nikkei<\/strong> plunged <strong>5%<\/strong> on fears of a ground war, while <strong>Taiwanese equities<\/strong> dropped over <strong>2%<\/strong> at the open and <strong>Malaysia\u2019s main index<\/strong> slipped <strong>1.2%<\/strong> to 1,692.4 points.<\/p>\n<p>In currency markets, the <strong>Korean won<\/strong> weakened significantly against the greenback. Meanwhile, the <strong>USD\/JPY<\/strong> pair traded at <strong>159.96<\/strong>, down <strong>0.21%<\/strong>, as Japanese authorities issued fresh warnings regarding potential market intervention to support the yen.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fixed_Income_and_Safe_Haven_Flows\"><\/span>Fixed Income and Safe Haven Flows<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The threat of expanded conflict triggered a sharp rally in government bonds. <strong>2-year U.S. Treasury yields<\/strong> dropped <strong>3.7 basis points to 3.879%<\/strong>, while the <strong>30-year yield<\/strong> fell to <strong>4.951%<\/strong>. This downward pressure on yields reflects a classic &quot;risk-off&quot; sentiment among global investors.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, <strong>30-year Japanese Government Bond (JGB)<\/strong> yields climbed <strong>4.0 basis points to 3.740%<\/strong>. To stabilize local markets, the <strong>Indonesian central bank<\/strong> rolled out new foreign exchange repo operations using SVBI and SUVBI as collateral to maintain liquidity.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Corporate_Developments_and_Trade_Shifts\"><\/span>Corporate Developments and Trade Shifts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In the healthcare sector, <strong>Eli Lilly (<a href=\"\/stock\/LLY\">LLY<\/a>)<\/strong> signed a landmark <strong>$2 billion deal<\/strong> to leverage artificial intelligence for drug discovery in partnership with a Hong Kong biotech entity. This comes as a pro-AI advocacy group announced plans to spend <strong>$100 million<\/strong> on the upcoming U.S. midterm elections to counter growing regulatory backlash.<\/p>\n<p>On the trade front, a senior <strong>WTO official<\/strong> confirmed that the long-standing <strong>e-commerce moratorium<\/strong> is no longer in effect. This development opens the door for member nations to tax digital trade, potentially impacting global software and streaming services.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Diplomatic_and_Domestic_Updates\"><\/span>Diplomatic and Domestic Updates<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>President Trump announced that his envoy to Belarus, <strong>John Coale<\/strong>, successfully secured the release of <strong>250 political prisoners<\/strong> from President Alexander Lukashenko. This brings the total number of freed individuals to over <strong>500<\/strong> since last May.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the U.S. administration signaled a pragmatic approach to regional energy logistics. Trump stated he has <strong>&quot;no objection&quot;<\/strong> to Russian oil tankers delivering fuel to <strong>Cuba<\/strong>, noting that he prefers permitting the shipments regardless of the source to maintain regional stability.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Brent crude futures surged over $4 to a high of $116.71 per barrel following reports that U.S. President 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