Crude prices rose sharply in Monday's Asian session after a fresh round of direct military exchanges between the United States and Iran. WTI front-month futures gained 2.47% to $85.46 a barrel, while Brent climbed 2.71% to $90.49, as markets priced in heightened risk to Middle East energy flows.
The escalation began when US forces struck Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island, located within the Strait of Hormuz, according to US Central Command. Iran responded with strikes on US bases in Jordan, marking the first direct US-Iran exchange in over a month.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil and LNG shipments, and any threat to its security tends to trigger immediate risk premiums in energy markets. Continued military escalation could raise insurance and freight costs for tankers transiting the strait and disrupt supply chains for crude, products and gas cargoes moving through the region.
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Original note by GIDEX Group based on reporting by Oilprice.com. Written up by the GIDEX market desk — see how these notes are made. Not investment advice.
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