Oil extends gains, with Brent above $101 after U.S. destroys Iranian oil tankers

Worries that escalating tensions in the Middle East could further exacerbate supply disruptions pushed oil prices higher.

Skip NavigationJoin ICJoin ProLivestreamMenu

  • Escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict, now in its seventh month, is raising the risk of oil prices surging above $120 a barrel as attacks on shipping intensify, Goldman Sachs said.
  • U.S. President Donald Trump’s top White House advisers have raised privately with him the prospect that the Iran conflict could drag on through the remainder of his term, according to WSJ.

Numerous merchant ships belonging to Iran and other countries remain at anchor in the Strait of Hormuz in Bandar Abbas, Iran, on Sept. 8, 2026. Fatemeh Bahrami | Anadolu | Getty Images

Oil extended gains on Thursday, amid worries that escalating tensions in the Middle East could further exacerbate supply disruptions.

Futures for international benchmark Brent crude for November delivery gained 0.62% to $101.84 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures for October advanced 1.01% to $96.06 per barrel.

Stock Chart IconStock chart iconhide content Brent

Tensions escalated after the U.S. military on Tuesday destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers in retaliation for attempted attacks on an American warship. U.S. Central Command said the warship successfully evaded Iranian attack and no American personnel were harmed.

The escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict, now in its seventh month, is raising the risk of oil prices surging above $120 a barrel as attacks on shipping intensify, said Daan Struyven, co-head of global commodities research at Goldman Sachs, in an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia.”

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump’s top White House advisers have raised privately with him the prospect that the Iran conflict could drag on through the remainder of his term, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The physical market may be tightened even more by a further decline in transit volumes, broader escalation or threats to energy infrastructure, extending the upward move in oil prices, said Andrei Constantin, commercial director and trading adviser at TFP Software FZCO.

“WTI has completely unwound its selloff between early June and July, while Brent prices are now well above those seen in early June,” said David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation.

Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About the Author

Easy WordPress Websites Builder: Versatile Demos for Blogs, News, eCommerce and More – One-Click Import, No Coding! 1000+ Ready-made Templates for Stunning Newspaper, Magazine, Blog, and Publishing Websites.

BlockSpare — News, Magazine and Blog Addons for (Gutenberg) Block Editor

Search the Archives

Access over the years of investigative journalism and breaking reports