U.S. Central Command has asked whether it can deploy the Dark Eagle hypersonic missile in the region as Washington weighs whether to return to major combat operations against Iran. The request lands while Brent crude, which had surged overnight to more than $120 a barrel, has slipped back to $111 this morning.
The missile inquiry is part of a broader military posture shift tied to the White House’s escalating review of options against Iran. At the same time, the administration is preparing diplomatic outreach to European powers in hopes of building a coalition that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that carries a large share of the world’s oil shipments.
That dual-track approach comes after six days of blunt talk from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said the United States was not counting on Europe and argued that European countries need the Strait of Hormuz more than the U.S. does. He added that they might want to do less talking and fewer fancy conferences in Europe and get in a boat. The comment captured the divide now running through the Western response: Washington wants partners, but many NATO countries are wary of being pulled into another open-ended Middle East conflict.
Oil markets have already shown how quickly the stakes can move. Brent’s overnight jump came on news that President Trump will consider returning to major combat operations against Iran, then eased as traders reassessed the immediate risk. The fluctuation underscores how closely energy prices, military planning and diplomacy are now moving together, with the Strait of Hormuz once again at the center of the crisis.
Outside the security fight, other data points were drawing attention of their own. Goldman Sachs analysts Lina Thomas and Daan Struyven reiterated a call for gold to reach $5,400 per troy ounce by the end of 2026, after a recent survey of 29 central bankers found 70% saw the metal rising. Alphabet’s cloud computing business reported 63% revenue growth in the first quarter, bringing revenue to $20 billion and lifting cloud to 18% of the company’s business. Samsung also posted 57.2 trillion Korean won, or $38.6 billion, in first-quarter operating profit, an eightfold increase that has helped push its shares up almost 75% this year.
For now, the most immediate question is not whether the U.S. can sharpen its military options, but whether it can line up enough support to keep the Strait of Hormuz open without widening the war. The answer will shape the next move in Washington far more than the latest oil quote.
