US Seizes Iranian Ship; Iran Vows Response | Horizons Middle East & Africa 4/20/2026

The US Navy attacks and boards an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Also on the show: oil and gas jump while stocks trade with caution after those fresh escalations in US-Iran tensions; Tehran vowing to respond, as President Trump once again threatens to destroy the country’s power plants and bridges; Israel’s defense minister says the army to use full force in Lebanon if troops face threat; the IMF says the Democratic Republic of Congo is poised to overtake Ethiopia to become sub-Saharan Africa’s fifth-largest economy this year. Guests include: John Sfakianakis, Gulf Research Center, Chief Economist; Maurice Gravier, Emirates NBD Group CIO.

Horizons Middle East & Africa is your daily spotlight on one of the world’s fastest-growing regions. Live from Dubai, we bring you the latest global markets and analysis, plus news-making interviews, with a special focus on MEA. All that and more, as you head to the office in the Gulf, pause for lunch in Hong Kong, or start your day in London or Johannesburg.

Chapters:
00:00:00 – Introduction
00:05:45 – US seizes first Iranian ship in blockade
00:12:56 – John Sfakianakis, Gulf Research Center, Chief Economist
00:20:21 – Maurice Gravier, Emirates NBD Group CIO
00:32:39 – Lebanon ceasefire showing signs of strain
00:38:00 – Doudou Fwamba Likunde, Democratic Republic of Congo, Finance Minister
00:40:49 – Congo to become sub-Saharan Africa’s 5th largest economy
00:45:49 – European stocks face earnings pressure
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