US Strikes 3 Iran Oil Tankers, Oil Jumps on Hormuz Risk | Horizons Middle East & Africa 9/7/2026
The US military says it struck three Iranian crude tankers as renewed US-Iran hostilities push oil prices higher and raise risks around the Strait of Hormuz. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright says the Navy will defend Hormuz until Iran backs down, with traffic through the crucial waterway averaging about 9 million barrels a day. Wright says the conflict is a “losing game” for Iran, while Bloomberg Intelligence says the US still has significant options in its arsenal. Goldman Sachs warns oil could reach $120 a barrel if attacks on Middle East shipping intensify, as OPEC+ sticks with its plan to keep output quotas unchanged.
In the US, stronger-than-expected payrolls show jobs growth surged in August, fueling bets on Federal Reserve rate hikes. China moves to boost its banking system with $45 billion, while Japan is believed to have sold US Treasuries to help fund yen intervention. The Nikkei advances as technology tailwinds help offset broader macroeconomic concerns.
Germany’s far-right AfD scores record gains in a state election, dealing a blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he sees no quick end to the war after meeting US envoys. France’s Jordan Bardella says France is not abandoning Ukraine but cannot finance it indefinitely as the country struggles with debt. Bardella also calls for deeper ties with the US and says President Donald Trump “speaks the language of power.”
Across Asian markets, the South Korean won advances on a Kospi rally and foreign stock inflows, while South Korea’s National Pension Service adjusts its FX hedging as the currency strengthens. An AI-driven rotation puts Taiwan stocks back into a leadership position, and Goldman Sachs favors the Chinese yuan and Indian rupee against some other Asian currencies.
In Africa, Dangote is seeking $1.6 billion in what would be Nigeria’s biggest IPO. In the Middle East, the push to expand AI and data-center infrastructure continues despite regional unrest and repeated attacks on data centers during the US-Iran conflict. Saudi Arabia’s Humain is eyeing a $2.5 billion data-center fund and plans 6GW of computing capacity, while the UAE’s G42 is adding 5GW and weighing US ownership as it seeks to safeguard access to advanced chips.
Turkey imposes a 10% tax on money-market returns and cuts its 2027 growth forecast. And an Amazon cargo plane overshoots a runway, killing five people. Guests includes Charu Chanana, Saxo Chief Investment Strategist and Vandana Hari, Vanda Insights Founder.
Horizons Middle East & Africa is your daily spotlight on one of the world’s fastest-growing regions. Live from Dubai, we bring you the latest global markets and analysis, plus news-making interviews, with a special focus on MEA. All that and more, as you head to the office in the Gulf, pause for lunch in Hong Kong, or start your day in London or Johannesburg.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Introduction
00:04:30 – Iran, US Trade Tanker Attacks
00:11:38 – US Jobs Growth Surged in August
00:13:06 – Charu Chanana, Saxo Chief Investment Strategist
00:19:33 – Jordan Bardella, French National Rally President
00:24:59 – Oil Jumps on Renewed US-Iran Hostilities
00:32:00 – Vandana Hari, Vanda Insights Founder
00:37:40 – Mideast Data Centers Push Endures Despite Unrest
00:42:02 – Dangote seeks $1.6B in Nigeria’s biggest IPO
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