JANUARY 15, 2026

0840 GMT – Oil prices fall 3% in early trading after President Trump said Iran had stopped killing antiregime protesters, easing concerns over imminent military action against the country. A strike could have threatened Iranian crude output and key shipping routes, raising the geopolitical risk premium significantly, market watchers say. Brent crude and WTI are both down 3.2% to $64.44 a barrel and $60.06 a barrel, respectively. “Despite the pullback, regional tensions remain elevated, including Iran’s temporary closure of airspace and US military repositioning,” Soojin Kim from MUFG says. Meanwhile, “on the supply side, recent data showed U.S. crude inventories rose significantly, potentially adding downward pressure on prices.” ([email protected])