Cecilia Lei

AP's science reporter maps out what to expect.

Trump turns to other countries for help in avoiding a spiraling energy crisis.

and how one battle after another won big at last night's Oscars.

It's Monday, March 16th.

I'm Cecilia Leigh, and this is Apple News Today.

It's set to be yet another unpredictable high-stakes week in the Middle East.

Over the weekend, the U.S.

and Iran gave competing signals on when the war might come to an end.

On ABC, U.S.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright tried to reassure Americans that there would soon be relief at the gas pump, but he offered no guarantees.

Meanwhile, Trump spoke to NBC on Saturday where he insisted Iran wanted a deal, but that the terms weren't, quote, good enough.

But a day later on Sunday, Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Arachi, told CBS there was no pressure from their side for a quick resolution.

In the days ahead, all eyes will be on a narrow channel of water where the fate of the global economy currently lies.

Iran has kept the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important shipping route, effectively closed.

And no obvious alternatives exist to replace the lost supplies.

Diplomacy also doesn't seem to be working.

So now eyes are on Trump to see if he'll turn to military force to open the strait.

Trump has suggested the U.S.

Navy could escort tankers on their routes, but on CNBC last week, Energy Secretary Chris Wright wasn't hopeful of anything imminent.

The Pentagon has reportedly begun moving around 2,500 U.S.