Brent oil prices rose sharply on Monday, with Brent crude jumping more than 6% to surpass $96 per barrel, recovering a significant portion of Friday’s 9% losses. The strong rebound reflects heightened geopolitical tensions and renewed uncertainty in global energy markets.
The main driver behind the surge was the seizure of an Iranian commercial vessel by U.S. naval forces. In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned that it would retaliate against what it described as a direct act of aggression by the United States. This escalation has further intensified fears of disruption in one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes.
Furthermore, the situation comes as a fragile two-week ceasefire agreement nears its end, adding additional pressure on global energy markets. Traders reacted quickly, pushing prices higher as concerns grew over potential supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key passage for global oil shipments.
At the start of the trading week, Brent crude from the North Sea increased by $6.11 to reach $96.49 per barrel. Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose by $6.53, trading at $90.38 per barrel amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
Market analysts say volatility has increased significantly due to both political statements and military developments. Therefore, Saul Kavonic, an analyst at MST Marquee, noted that recent oil price movements are being driven more by political rhetoric—especially social media statements from U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian officials—than by traditional supply and demand indicators.
He added that current market behavior suggests investors are reacting to geopolitical signals rather than underlying fundamentals, especially as concerns grow over a potential and unprecedented supply shortage in global oil markets.
Overall, rising tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to dominate market sentiment, keeping Brent oil prices highly volatile and sensitive to any new developments in the region.
