US EIA in September projects this year’s average WTI at $84.65/bbl, up from $80.88/bbl previously.

Politico reports a White House disclosure shows President Trump gave holiday gifts valued at $45,000 to Natalie Harp and two other aides.

Iran sees US economic pressure as a domestic security risk, prompting a harder posture. Deepening economic despair after December’s currency crisis raises the risk of renewed anti-government protests; Tehran fears Israel could exploit unrest to back dissidents or armed uprisings, and Israeli leaders have hinted at that possibility. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week: “There is more work to be done. First and foremost is overthrowing the regime. The end of this Iranian regime is near.” Iranian officials, unwilling to wait for Israeli action, may feel compelled to change the situation — potentially via more destructive or aggressive measures that would raise regional tensions, a Tehran University Middle East scholar said.