Trump's Iran Warning Drives Triple-Day Oil Price Surge: Gulf of Oman Reactions and Market Impact

U.S. President Donald Trump's new military threats against Iran have driven oil prices to a third consecutive day of gains. On Wednesday, Brent crude rose 0.6%, reaching $85.23 per barrel, while WTI futures increased 0.4%, closing at $79.67 per barrel. These levels are near the highs seen last week, which had risen 10% in a single session. The U.S. military announced new operations targeting Iranian vessels transiting the Hurmuz Strait. Trump reiterated that the U.S. would continue supporting UN strikes on Iran unless Tehran returns to negotiations. He also warned that bridges and power plants could be targeted if no agreement is reached by next week. Meanwhile, commercial shipping in the Hurmuz Strait, which carries one-fifth of global oil shipments, has slowed amid rising tensions. U.S. crude oil inventories fell by 600,000 barrels last week, far below the expected 2.7 million barrel decline.

The U.S.'s escalating military pressure on Iran has disrupted oil supply dynamics. The price surge is squeezing profit margins for producers and weakening capital adequacy ratios (CAR) in the energy sector. The integration of digital payment systems in oil trade is amplifying the financial strain from this geopolitical tension.