South Korean Interceptor Missiles are Flying off the Shelves: #Bloomberg

Welcome back to Bloomberg’s Defense Monitor, a weekly rundown on the companies, geopolitics and finances of the future battlefield. Sign up now if you’re not already on the list. US President Donald Trump backed off on threats to bomb power plants in Iran, saying his administration was having productive talks with Tehran. About 30 minutes later, Iranian state media and government spokespeople said there were, in fact, no talks.How much more either side can escalate is a bit of an open question. The US seems to have run out of military targets to bomb — hence the power plants — and Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off (and you’ve heard this many times by now) about 20% of the world’s oil.And interestingly, some parties decided to trade heavily in that oil just before Trump’s announcements about the US negotiating with Iran pushed prices down.

Reports kicked around the idea of US troops taking Kharg Island, which is home to Iran’s main oil terminals but nowhere near the strait. US Marines, who do that sort of thing, should be in the region soon.