European stock markets are expected to open lower on Thursday as investors monitor the Iran war and global oil prices. The International Energy Agency (IE) has agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil to address supply disruptions caused by the Iran conflict. Despite this, oil prices have surged by over 8%, with Brent crude at $100 a barrel. The U.S. government has announced new trade investigations into the European Union and several other nations under the Act of the Enlightenment.