Brent and WTI rise as new U.S. strikes raise supply fears

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Brent and WTI rise

Highlights

Brent crude tops $85 a barrel as WTI rises above $79.
U.S. forces struck Iranian coastal targets.
Hormuz remains the main supply risk.

Brent futures traded at $85.31 a barrel, up 0.68%, while WTI rose 0.69% to $79.89, according to the latest market data shown Wednesday. U.S. forces struck dozens of Iranian military assets near Hormuz and along the country’s coastline in a seven-hour operation, CNBC reported.

U.S. strikes target coastal defenses

U.S. Central Command said the operation targeted missile and drone facilities, naval assets, and coastal defense systems. The goal, according to the command, was to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping around the Strait of Hormuz.

The strikes came as U.S. forces resumed a naval blockade on vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports. That marks a renewed escalation after earlier hopes that tanker traffic through the region could normalize quickly.

CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper said Iran had intentionally targeted civilians and attacked seven commercial vessels over the previous week, leaving roughly a dozen crew members dead, missing, or injured. The claim underscored Washington’s argument that the blockade and strikes are aimed at protecting shipping lanes.

Hormuz risk keeps oil supported

The market reaction was choppy but upward. Traders are weighing the immediate flow of crude against the possibility that repeated strikes and a blockade could reduce tanker movement or raise shipping costs.

The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the oil market because a large share of Gulf crude and fuel exports moves through the waterway. Even limited disruption can push up freight costs, insurance premiums, and the geopolitical risk premium embedded in oil prices.

Saul Kavonic, senior energy analyst at MST Marquee, said that expectations for a rapid reopening of the strait had proved premature. He said oil could retest $100 if the current level of hostilities persists for several weeks, with greater upside risk if regional oil infrastructure is targeted.

Energy markets price a longer crisis

The latest move matters because the conflict is again moving toward direct pressure on shipping infrastructure. The combination of U.S. strikes and a renewed blockade makes the market more sensitive to any sign that tankers are being delayed or redirected.

For now, oil is rising on risk rather than a confirmed collapse in supply. But if the blockade lasts or Iran expands attacks on commercial vessels, the pressure could spread from crude prices into shipping, inflation expectations, and broader financial markets.

We have previously highlighted that Iran warns of a wider seaway blockade as the U.S. renews pressure.

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