News23 Mar 2026 08:00
Brent crude futures traded above $112 per barrel on Monday after climbing to as high as $115 earlier in the session, as investors assessed President Donald Trump’s ultimatum urging Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump warned he would “obliterate” major Iranian power plants if the waterway is not reopened to shipping by late Monday. In response, Tehran said it would target US and Israeli assets across the region, including energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure, if its own energy facilities were struck. Oil prices have surged roughly 50% since the Iran war began, as the conflict shows no signs of easing, effectively shutting Hormuz and sharply curbing Middle Eastern oil production. The IEA has cautioned that the global oil market is facing its largest-ever shock despite a substantial release of emergency reserves and US efforts to facilitate the sale of Russian and Iranian oil.