# Global Energy Markets

A 'Gentle Tap' on the Brink: US-Iran Skirmishes Test a Fragile Gulf Ceasefire

Recent military clashes in the Strait of Hormuz between U.S. naval forces and the IRGC have tested the resilience of a month-old ceasefire. While Iran claims to have inflicted major damage on U.S. destroyers, President Trump has downplayed the engagement as a 'gentle tap' intended to maintain the status quo without triggering a wider war.