Iran-US Tensions Escalate, Oil Prices Soar

0:00It's March 26. You're listening to Canada News today, AI-powered local news. Tensions between Iran and the United States are rising fast in their ongoing war. Iran has tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, the key waterway for 20 percent of global oil and gas trade. Ships now face strict checks and some pay fees in Chinese Yuan to pass through. Acting like an unofficial toll system, the U.S. is ramping up its presence with the USS Tripoli and 2,500 Marines heading to the region, plus 1,000 pair of troopers. From the 82nd airborne, U.S. forces have already struck over 10,000 targets, wiping out 92 percent of Iran's biggest ships and most of its missile and drone. Production. World leaders are alarmed as oil prices climb above $104 per barrel, sparking fears of a global energy crunch. Foreign officials called it a catastrophe for economies everywhere, while President Trump claims Iran wants a deal, despite their hard-line stance on the Strait.

1:02Iran denies any talks are happening, insisting on demands like reparations and recognition of its control over the Strait. Meanwhile, Israel launched strikes on Iranian sites near Isbahan and sirens blared in Tel Aviv from apparent rocket fire out of Lebanon. Specialties mount with over 1,500 dead in Iran, dozens in Israel and U.S. ranks, and hundreds more across Lebanon and Gulf states, as attacks continue on energy sites and defenses