President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. Development Finance Corp. (DFC) to provide political risk insurance for shipping companies in the Persian Gulf. This move is intended to prevent a decline in global oil supply and prevent Iran from closing the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime shipping lane. The move is also intended to provide financial support for oil and shipping companies if they defy a blockade. The announcement helped bring stocks back from a deep slump and pushed oil prices down.