Oil prices surged on Tuesday after the US launched strikes on Iran and enforced a naval blockade of Iranian ports, escalating regional conflict and threatening energy shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude futures jumped 3.5% to $86.24 per barrel and hit their highest since June 12. West Texas Intermediate crude futures advanced by 2.5% to $80.04/bbl and hit their highest since June 16.
This surge follows US military strikes on Iranian infrastructure in Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, and the refining hub of Abadan, alongside the US enforcement of a naval blockade on Iranian ports and the proposal of a 20% security fee for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The security environment in the Strait of Hormuz has deteriorated following reports that Iranian cruise missiles struck two Emirati tankers, resulting in one death and eight injuries.
Despite these disruptions and the formal cancellation of US oil sanction waivers last week, Iran reportedly claimed that the country's oil exports are continuing as planned.
While ANZ warned that the renewed conflict jeopardizes recent supply recovery efforts, Macquarie suggested that substantial global supply capacity could lead to a rapid price correction should geopolitical risks subside.
Meanwhile, energy markets are balancing additional pressures from other regions. The Ukrainian military reported overnight strikes on Russian oil refineries in the Bashkortostan and Krasnodar regions.
Simultaneously, the European Union's failure to finalize its 21st sanctions package against Russia has created uncertainty regarding the bloc's oil price cap mechanism.
If the EU does not reach an agreement by Wednesday's deadline, the price cap may rise, potentially undermining international efforts to constrain Russian oil revenues.