In a twist of wartime irony, the United States has moved to ease sanctions on Iranian oil to cool surging energy prices, a potential boon for Tehran.

Following news of deployments, Trump said later Friday on social media that his administration in fact was considering “winding down” military operations in the region.

Former U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to break down rising oil prices, Trump’s global strategy and how the U.S. could counter Iran’s threat in the Strait of Hormuz.

By Alex Lawler and Arathy Somasekhar March 21 - The war in the Middle East has triggered a nightmare scenario for the global energy ⁠system, ⁠slashing so much supply that consumers around the world must both pay ⁠up big and lower consumption.

Three weeks into an escalating war in the Middle East, Iran threatened to expand its retaliatory attacks to include recreational and tourist sites worldwide, as the U.S. announced it was sending more warships and Marines to the region.

Israel hit the Iranian capital Tehran with airstrikes Friday, with activists reporting sounds of strikes around the city

While hosting Japan's prime minister in the Oval Office on Thursday, President Trump downplayed the impact of the war in Iran on global energy prices. Erica Brown reports.

Another climb for oil prices shook stock markets on Friday, as hopes collapsed for a possible cut to interest rates this year by the Federal Reserve. The S&P 500 fell 1.5% to close its fourth straight losing week,