Conducts

• Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy commenced large-scale military exercises in the Persian Gulf on April 1, deploying multiple warships and missile systems near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. • US Central Command deployed additional naval assets to the region in response, with Pentagon officials stating the move is designed to "ensure freedom of navigation" and protect commercial shipping lanes critical to global energy markets. • The Iranian exercises follow recent diplomatic tensions and represent the latest in a series of military posturing events that have increased risk premiums on global oil prices by approximately 3% this week.

• The Artemis II crew held a virtual media briefing from their quarantine facilities at Kennedy Space Center on March 29, 2026, providing updates on mission preparations and crew status. • The media event represents a standard pre-launch protocol for NASA's crewed lunar missions, allowing the public and press to interact with astronauts before their departure. • This briefing marks a key milestone in the Artemis II mission timeline, bringing the crew closer to their scheduled launch date.

• Israel's military launched a wave of airstrikes in the heart of Tehran early Friday, March 27, while U.S. President Donald Trump delayed his deadline to strike Iran's energy plants until April 6 amid ongoing Strait of Hormuz tensions. • The conflict has resulted in over 1,900 deaths in Iran, nearly 1,100 in Lebanon, 18 in Israel including four soldiers, and 13 U.S. military members, with millions displaced in both countries. • Trump cited Iran's request for a grace period and stated talks on a 15-point proposal are going 'very well,' despite Tehran's public denials of negotiations.