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Oil Whipsaws as Trump’s 48‑Hour Hormuz Ultimatum Meets Iranian Retaliation Threats

Brent hovers near $112 with tanker traffic throttled under a 48‑hour deadline.

Overview

  • President Trump warned he will “obliterate” Iranian power plants if the strait is not fully reopened within 48 hours, jolting energy markets going into Monday trading.
  • Iran vowed to completely close Hormuz if attacked and threatened strikes on U.S.- and Israel-linked energy and desalination infrastructure across the Gulf, with officials signaling prolonged price pressures.
  • Early Monday prices showed Brent around $111–113 and WTI near $98–100, with a multi‑year‑wide BrentWTI spread as Middle East flows remain severely constrained.
  • The UK will hold a Cobra meeting on Monday to address the economic fallout and energy security, while ministers urge against panic‑buying and an adviser pushes a temporary profit cap on producers and petrol retailers.
  • U.S. options reportedly under review include targeting or blockading Iran’s Kharg Island, and recent Iranian missile activity, including an unsuccessful strike toward Diego Garcia, has expanded perceived regional risk.