Asian Stock Markets Brighten Amid Hopes of US-Iran Peace Despite Ongoing Sea Blockade

Jakarta, VIVA - Asian-Pacific stock markets strengthened at the opening of trading on Tuesday, 14 April 2026. The gains followed hopes of a possible agreement between the United States (US) and Iran, despite Washington blockading Iranian goods shipments in the Strait of Hormuz.

The US-Iran ceasefire, which has not been officially cancelled, is becoming increasingly fragile. Tensions have risen again as both countries accuse each other of breaching the agreement, eroding the trust that underpinned the ceasefire.

The US announced it would begin blocking ships entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz from 10 a.m. local time on Monday, 13 April 2026. This measure aims to pressure Iran into reopening the sea route after peace negotiations failed.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned that the US blockade would only drive up global oil prices. He even urged US citizens to enjoy current petrol prices before they soar higher.

“With what is called a ‘blockade’, soon you will miss petrol prices of US$4 and US$5,” Ghalibaf wrote in a post on X.

In addition to developments in the Middle East conflict, investors in the Asian region will also monitor China’s trade data to be released today.

According to CNBC International, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index rose 1.5 percent. The Topix index surged 0.74 percent.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index climbed 0.88 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Futures traded at the level of 25,924.

In connection with expectations of a peace agreement between the US and Iran, Wall Street closed jubilantly yesterday. The S&P 500 index jumped 1.02 percent to end at 6,886.24, its highest close since before the war began.

The Nasdaq Composite soared 1.24 percent to 23,183.74. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 301.68 points, or 0.63 percent, to 48,218.25.