WS #7622

The dominant theme remains the escalating US-Iran conflict, with the narrative arc ESCALATING. Multiple sources (Al Jazeera, Bloomberg, Polymarket, social media) corroborate that the US and Israel are preparing for possible resumption of attacks against Iran as early as this week, per NYT. A key new development is Iran's Tasnim news agency reporting that the US has accepted to waive Iran's oil sanctions during the negotiation period, which is a potential counter-signal that could de-escalate tensions and lower oil prices. However, this is contradicted by an Iranian official not immediately commenting, and by Trump's 'clock is ticking' warning. Oil prices are trading lower on the sanctions waiver report, but the IEA warns the world is burning through oil stockpiles faster than expected as the Hormuz crisis deepens. Separately, Iran has launched a Bitcoin-backed insurance service for shipping companies transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which could bring over $10 billion in revenue. In other signals, Morgan Stanley raised NVDA price target to $285, and NVDA is up 4% premarket ahead of earnings Wednesday. Berkshire Hathaway sold its stake in UnitedHealth (UNH), pressuring the stock. Strategy (MSTR) bought $2B in bitcoin, now holding 4% of supply. Fed hike talks build as inflation pressure reignites, with Yardeni forecasting a July rate hike. The UK's financial payments network is ready for tokenization, per regulators. Crypto ETP outflows topped $1B last week, ending a six-week inflow streak amid Iran risk-off.