Donald Trump delivered the message with his typical confidence: „Countries are turning to America, because our oil is of better quality." The statement came as global markets reacted to the announcement that Washington is close to a possible peace deal with Iran - and oil immediately fell.

Brent crude dropped by 1.5 per cent, to 108.18 dollars a barrel. West Texas Intermediate - 1.6 per cent, to 100.60 dollars. Last week Brent stood at its highest level since March 2022, at levels our region hasn't seen since the start of the Ukrainian crisis.

Trump simultaneously announced he would pause parts of the operation for safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, even as „the American navy continues to block the Iranian ports". A double message: we negotiate, but we don't back off.

Market logic is simple. If you attack tankers in Hormuz - oil goes up. If you offer peace - oil goes down. And every Trump move shifts prices for Macedonia and the region, who don't participate in any part of that geopolitical calculus - but pay all the consequences at the pumps.

The LSEG analyst An Fam warned that even in the case of a deal, „a full restoration of trade flows will take significant time". In other words - even if they sign tomorrow, the pump prices at home won't fall for a long time yet.

And the real test of „American oil of better quality"? Will the Balkans actually feel those „better prices"? Our pumps have a tradition - when oil rises on the markets, prices here go up in two weeks. When it falls - they fall in two months. If they fall at all.

Trump negotiates. Iran claims victory. And the Balkans pour 90 euros for a full tank.