Oil prices surged to their highest level since November following a sharp escalation in US foreign policy. President Donald Trump announced a new 25% tariff targeting any nation that continues to purchase Iranian crude or other goods. This move significantly tightens the existing sanctions regime against Tehran, creating immediate uncertainty for global energy traders and refiners who rely on Iranian barrels.

Daan Struyven, who leads global commodities research at Goldman Sachs, recently discussed these developments with Bloomberg's Joumanna Bercetche. Struyven emphasized that markets are now intensely focused on the potential for genuine supply disruptions rather than just speculative risk. Traders fear that secondary sanctions could effectively remove millions of barrels of Iranian crude from the international market, tightening global inventories.

While the specifics of the tariff implementation remain fluid, the market reaction underscores growing anxiety over geopolitical friction. If major importers like China or India comply with the threat, the global supply-demand balance could shift dramatically. The next few weeks will be critical as international diplomats and energy officials assess the fallout from this aggressive trade tactic.