Iran Crisis Overview – July 2026 Population and Major Cities Iran’s population is estimated at 93.17 million as of mid-2026. Major cities include Tehran with 9.88 million residents, Mashhad at 3.53 million, Isfahan at 2.2 million, Shiraz at 1.8 million, and Tabriz at 1.69 million. The country has a median age of 34.5 years and a life expectancy of 78.2 years. Electricity Infrastructure…

60-Day Jones Act Shipping Waiver Issued to Bring Stability to the U.S. Oil Market

So here's something worth unpacking — the Trump administration has issued a 60-day waiver on the Jones Act, the century-old law that normally requires all cargo shipped between U.S. ports to travel aboard American-built, American-owned, and American-crewed vessels.

"When markets wobble, policy levers get pulled — even ones that have been locked in a drawer since 1920."

The move is specifically aimed at stabilizing the domestic oil market, allowing foreign tankers to temporarily ferry petroleum products between U.S. ports — something that's normally a hard no under existing maritime law.

This isn't the first time the Jones Act has been suspended in a crisis moment. Similar waivers were issued after hurricanes Katrina and Maria, when fuel supply chains in affected regions needed immediate relief. The difference here? This isn't a natural disaster — it's a market pressure play.

Critics of the Jones Act have long argued it artificially inflates shipping costs, particularly for U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and Hawaii. Supporters counter that it protects American maritime workers and national security. This 60-day window doesn't resolve that debate — it just pauses it.