April 2026 — World Tension 93.7

April was a very tense month, ending in the Extreme zone with an average score of 93.7. The month reached its lowest level of 88 on April 11, but immediately spiked to its peak of 97 on April 7 as major conflict events unfolded. Tension was driven up by the collapse of Iran peace talks, a U.S. military naval blockade of Iranian ports, and mutual attacks on commercial ships near the Strait of Hormuz. The situation was briefly offset by minor drops, including an offer from Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. lifted its blockade and ended the war. Ultimately, the month ended on a high note of conflict as Brent oil topped $118 amid ongoing blockades and nuclear demands.

Scores in this month were computed by the first-generation engine (v1), which ran on a higher calibration than today's engine.

Peak 97 on 2026-04-07 · low 88 on 2026-04-11 · locked record · ← March · 2026 overview · May →

• Oil prices jump after Iran and U.S. attack commercial ships as tensions escalate over Strait of Hormuz CNBC · 2026-04-19 · tension 68
• Iran offers to reopen Strait of Hormuz if U.S. lifts its blockade and the war ends, officials say PBS · 2026-04-27 · tension 64
• The U.S. military says it will blockade Iranian ports as Iran peace talks collapse NPR · 2026-04-12 · tension 61
• Brent oil tops $118 after Trump says he will blockade Iran until it agrees to a nuclear deal CNBC · 2026-04-29 · tension 58
• WATCH: Trump says the pope has to understand that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon PBS · 2026-04-16 · tension 58
• Why U.S. Allies in Asia Are Chasing Nuclear Energy—And Eyeing Nuclear Weapons Council on Foreign Relations · 2026-04-06 · tension 56
• Guterres warns of ‘wider war’ as Middle East conflict enters second month UN News · 2026-04-02 · tension 55
• How the Iran War undermines the nuclear nonproliferation regime Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists · 2026-04-02 · tension 55
• Missing from US-Iran talks: plutonium for more than 200 nuclear bombs Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists · 2026-04-23 · tension 55
• Coercing Iran: Why Trump’s Hormuz Blockade Has a Short Fuse Council on Foreign Relations · 2026-04-14 · tension 55

• The U.S. military says it will blockade Iranian ports as Iran peace talks collapse NPR
• Brent oil tops $118 after Trump says he will blockade Iran until it agrees to a nuclear deal CNBC
• Hegseth Urges Iran to 'Choose Wisely' During Epic Fury Ceasefire, Blockade U.S. Department of War (.gov)
• Israel says Iran ceasefire doesn't apply to Lebanon, and strikes central Beirut without warning PBS
• MIDDLE EAST LIVE 17 April: Israel-Lebanon ceasefire begins; Iran announces opening of Strait of Hormuz UN News