Iran Wavers on Peace Talks & UAE Explores US Financial Lifeline: WSJ | The Pulse 04/20/2026

Tensions between the US and Iran have ratcheted up, after the US Navy seized an Iranian-flagged ship in the Gulf of Oman. It’s the first such seizure in the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The continued standoff threatens to deepen the global energy crisis, and undermines President Trump’s prediction over the weekend of a quick end to the conflict.

The UAE has reportedly begun talks with the US about a financial backstop in case the Iran war plunges the country into further crisis. The Wall Street Journal says the UAE Central Bank Governor raised the idea of a currency swap line with Fed and US Treasury officials during meetings in Washington last week.

Plus the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is due to give a statement to parliament, outlining his version of events surrounding the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador, even after he failed security vetting. Olly Robbins, the civil servant he sacked over the controversy, will give evidence on Tuesday.

Today’s guests: Dominic Bunning, Nomura, Head of G-10 FX Strategy; Jumana Saleheen, Vanguard, Chief European Economist; Maria Simeonova, European Council on Foreign Relations, Head of Sofia Office; Hasan Alhasan, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Middle East Policy Senior Fellow; Jill Rutter, Institute for Government, Senior Fellow


"The Pulse With Francine Lacqua" is all about conversations with high profile guests in the beating heart of global business, economics, finance and politics. Based in London, we go wherever the story is, bringing you exclusive interviews and market-moving scoops.

Chapters:
00:00:00 – The Pulse with Francine Lacqua
00:00:24 – US seizes Iranian cargo ship during Hormuz blockade
00:04:10 – UAE and US discuss potential financial lifeline: WSJ
00:06:33 – Market Roundtable: Nomura’s Dominic Bunning & Vanguard’s Jumana Saleheen
00:17:44 – Maria Simeonova, European Council on Foreign Relations, Head of Sofia Office
00:23:57 – Monday headlines
00:24:26 – Oil and gas jump after US seizure of Iranian ship
00:26:34 – Israel tells Southern Lebanon villages’ residents not to return
00:30:06 – Hasan Alhasan, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Middle East Policy Senior Fellow
00:39:00 – Jill Rutter, Institute for Government, Senior Fellow
00:44:06 – The Big Take: Hedge Funds Get ‘Gazumped’ in New Poaching Strategy Boosting Pay
——–
More on Bloomberg Television and Markets

Like this video? Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss any videos from Bloomberg Markets & Finance: https://tinyurl.com/ysu5b8a9
Visit http://www.bloomberg.com for business news & analysis, up-to-the-minute market data, features, profiles and more.

Connect with Bloomberg Television on:
X: https://twitter.com/BloombergTV
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BloombergTelevision
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloombergtv/

Connect with Bloomberg Business on:
X: https://twitter.com/business
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloombergbusiness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloombergbusiness/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bloombergbusiness?lang=en
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/bloomberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bloomberg-news/

More from Bloomberg:
Bloomberg Radio: https://twitter.com/BloombergRadio

Bloomberg Surveillance: https://twitter.com/bsurveillance
Bloomberg Politics: https://twitter.com/bpolitics
Bloomberg Originals: https://twitter.com/bbgoriginals

Watch more on YouTube:
Bloomberg Technology: https://www.youtube.com/@BloombergTechnology
Bloomberg Originals: https://www.youtube.com/@business
Bloomberg Quicktake: https://www.youtube.com/@BloombergQuicktake
Bloomberg Espanol: https://www.youtube.com/@bloomberg_espanol
Bloomberg Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/@BloombergPodcasts