Oil prices climbed Thursday amid ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world's oil flows. President Trump criticized Iran on Truth Social for "doing a very poor job" of allowing oil transport through this critical waterway, sending crude futures higher as markets reacted to geopolitical risks.

Market analysts warn that delayed normalization of traffic through the Strait or further Middle East escalation could push prices beyond current levels. Barclays analyst Amarpreet Singh noted muted tanker transits remain a concern, with the bank's $85-per-barrel Brent forecast for 2026 facing upside risk from these developments.

Front-month futures reflected the unease, with WTI crude rising 0.6% to $98.42 per barrel and Brent climbing 0.9% to $96.77. The price movements demonstrate how geopolitical tensions in critical energy corridors can immediately impact global oil markets, even as diplomatic efforts continue to ease the situation.