Market News

By Dare Olawin

Oil prices rose more than two per cent on Monday as renewed military attacks between the United States and Iran heightened concerns over possible disruptions to global crude supplies.

Brent crude futures rose $2.37, or 2.69 per cent, to $90.47 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude gained $2, or 2.4 per cent, to $85.40 a barrel. Brent earlier climbed as high as $91.52 a barrel, its highest level since August 25, according to Oilprice.com.

Reuters reported that the latest rally followed the resumption of direct military action between Washington and Tehran, with US forces striking two Iranian launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday.

The strikes were the first known US attacks on Iran since late July, as the conflict entered its sixth month. Iran subsequently attacked two US air bases in Jordan, Iranian media reported on Monday, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The renewed confrontation has raised fresh concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route. The market is reportedly now focused on whether the latest escalation will lead to a broader conflict or whether diplomatic efforts can secure a de-escalation and reopen the strategic waterway.

It was gathered that mediators have been seeking an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of global oil supplies passed before the war began at the end of February.

However, negotiations have stalled amid the continuing hostilities. Shipping data showed that the number of visible commodity vessels transiting the strait fell to five a day over the weekend, highlighting the disruption to maritime traffic.

US President Donald Trump also intensified rhetoric over Iran’s energy infrastructure on Sunday, saying the country’s Kharg Island energy hub was being “blown to smithereens”.

There was, however, no evidence that the island had been attacked. Iran denied that Kharg Island had come under attack and said oil operations there were continuing.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday that Washington’s sanctions on Iran were aimed at pressuring Tehran into negotiations. He told CNBC that the objective was “to create the conditions that they will want to come to the table” for negotiations.

Despite Monday’s recovery, oil prices remained on track for modest monthly losses in August after falling more than 4 per cent last week. It would be the first monthly decline after three consecutive weeks of gains.

Meanwhile, concerns about supply could be partly eased by developments in Venezuela, with Trump saying on Sunday that oil secured under a deal with the South American country would be used to replenish the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Reuters said the US SPR has fallen close to its lowest level in 44 years. Separately, Chevron, GE Vernova, India’s ONGC, Italy’s Eni and Colombia’s GeoPark are expected to sign final agreements in Venezuela following months of negotiations over energy projects in the OPEC member.

The developments come as traders continue to assess the impact of the Iran-US conflict on crude production, exports and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with any prolonged disruption threatening to put further upward pressure on global oil prices.