The ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran has reached new heights, with both sides escalating their military actions. The US has been considering a special operation to seize Iran’s uranium reserves, while Iran has picked a new leader as the war deepens. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has warned of possible retaliation against Iran, and China has been suspected in a breach of FBI surveillance network. In this blog post, we will provide an in-depth analysis of the latest developments in the Middle East conflict, including the impact on oil markets, gold buying, and AI guidelines.

The US has been demanding that Iran relent in its attacks on American energy assets, while also considering the deployment of ground troops to the region. However, President Trump has expressed reservations about deploying troops without a clear reason. In response, Iran has been hitting key US radar installations and deepening the oil shock.

Israel has been blasting fuel depots in Iran as the war enters its second week, with the US expressing dismay at the strikes. Saudi Arabia has also told Iran not to attack it, warning of possible retaliation. The ongoing conflict has led to chaos in oil markets, with more Gulf giants cutting output and China suspected in a breach of FBI surveillance network.

The situation in the Middle East has also had an impact on gold buying, with China’s PBOC extending its gold buying amid simmering tensions. Crypto markets have also been tracking war risk, with investors seeking safe havens in times of conflict.

In other news, the US has been drawing up strict new AI guidelines amid anthropic clashes, while KKR eyes a multibillion-dollar sale of a data centre cooling company. Novo and Hims have ended their feud, with plans to sell obesity drugs together, and OpenAI’s head of robotics has resigned over the company’s Pentagon deal.