Insights

Strategic Intelligence Brief — Edition 34 — April 27, 2026

Iran submits new Hormuz-first proposal — nuclear talks deferred; Trump NSC meeting today to review offer · Araghchi meets Putin in St. Petersburg — Russia pledges to do “everything” for Iran; Belousov meets Iran’s deputy defense minister · NPT Review Conference opens today in New York — worst strategic environment since 1968 founding; IAEA blind on Iran 8+ months · IDF strikes Bekaa Valley for first time since Apr 16 ceasefire — Hezbollah’s Qassem declares Lebanon-Israel direct talks “nonexistent to us”

Strategic Intelligence Brief — Edition 33 — April 25, 2026

Strategic Intelligence Brief — Edition 33 — April 17, 2026

Iran opens Hormuz to commercial ships — IRGC permission required; US blockade of Iranian ports remains · Israel-Lebanon 10-day ceasefire holds; IDF strikes motorcycle in south Lebanon post-truce · Second round US-Iran talks confirmed for Pakistan Monday, April 21 · $760M oil futures bet placed 20 minutes before Hormuz announcement — CFTC investigating third such trade

Strategic Intelligence Brief — Edition 32 — April 16, 2026

Strategic Intelligence Brief — Edition 31 — April 15, 2026

Strategic Intelligence Brief — Edition 30 — April 13, 2026

US naval blockade of all Iranian ports active as of 10am ET Monday · Islamabad talks collapse after 21 hours — Vance: “final and best offer” rejected · Iran FM Araghchi: “inches away from MoU, then goalposts shifted” · Macron announces UK-France coalition for Hormuz freedom of navigation conference

Strategic Intelligence Brief — Edition 28 — April 10, 2026

Vance departs for Islamabad — US-Iran direct talks begin Saturday · Hormuz: only 5 ships crossed Thursday; Brent ~$95, strait “effectively closed” · Hezbollah fires 30+ rockets at northern Israel Friday; school struck in Deir al-Asad · CIT hears oral arguments on Section 122 tariffs; ruling could come within days

Strategic Intelligence Brief — Edition 27 — April 09, 2026

Ceasefire collapses within hours: Israel launches 100+ Lebanon strikes in 10 minutes, 300+ killed; Iran reimposed Hormuz; Hezbollah fires 30+ rockets April 9 · JD Vance leads US to Islamabad Saturday; Iran delegation traveling Thursday; enrichment red line irreconcilable as stated · Brent rebounds 4% to $98 as markets confirm Hormuz supervised pause ≠ reopening; Goldman: $100+ if shut another month · CIT Section 122 oral arguments today: if injunction granted, US tariff architecture collapses before July 24

Strategic Intelligence Brief — Edition 26 — April 08, 2026

US-Iran two-week ceasefire in effect — Hormuz reopening, Islamabad talks begin Friday April 10 · Israel excludes Lebanon from ceasefire — central Beirut struck hours after deal; 1,500+ dead · Iran enrichment dispute — Farsi text includes “acceptance of enrichment,” English version omits it; Trump calls it “fraudulent” · Oil crashes 14–16% — WTI ~$95, Brent ~$94; still 30%+ above pre-war levels

Strategic Intelligence Brief — Edition 25 — April 05, 2026

WSO rescued from Iran mountains after 30-hour manhunt — CIA deception campaign, heavy firefight, both F-15E crew now safe · Trump April 6 deadline live — energy infrastructure strikes threatened if Hormuz remains blocked by Monday 8 PM ET · Indonesia buries 3 UNIFIL peacekeepers; 3 more wounded Friday — thousands protest at US Embassy in Jakarta · US 10% global tariff enters force today; 60+ nations face higher rates from April 9 — J.P. Morgan: effective rate now 23%+