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Trump’s New Iran Blockade Boosts Oil Prices

New York Times Business •
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Oil prices rose Tuesday as the U.S. bombed Iran before imposing a naval blockade, while President Donald Trump abandoned his demand that ships pay a protection fee to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

West Texas Intermediate futures climbed 1.5% to close at $79.34 per barrel. Brent futures, the international benchmark, gained 1.72% to settle at $84.73 per barrel. The U.S. military launched more airstrikes against Iran on Tuesday as it reimposed a blockade on the country’s ports and coastal areas at 4 p.m. ET, U.S. Central Command said in a social media post.

Trump relented after the shipping industry largely opposed the fee, and the International Maritime Organization said mandatory tolls in the strait are illegal. Iran agreed it will not impose a toll for 60 days under the interim deal signed June 17. Meanwhile, the U.S. bombed targets along Iran’s coast, the third consecutive night of strikes, to degrade Tehran’s ability to attack commercial ships.

Shipping traffic slumped after Iran targeted vessels in early March, but 8.5 million barrels of oil still transited the strait on Sunday alone, and the blockade’s ασ impact on oil prices remains a key concern for global markets.