According to its Energy Secretary Chris Wright, the USA has no plans to attack the Iranian oil industry. “The US is not targeting energy infrastructure,” Wright told CNN. The bombing of an oil depot by Israel in Iran had previously caused a stir, after which thick clouds of smoke darkened the sky over the capital Tehran. Footage after the attack on Saturday evening showed a massive fireball.
Israeli army spokesman Effie Defrin emphasized that Israel had attacked fuel depots used by the Iranian military on Sunday night. “This is the oil that keeps the wheels of the regime turning and its terrorist actions against the State of Israel, against the region and against the entire population,” he said. Israel is not fighting against the “great Iranian people,” but only against the “terrorist regime,” explained Defrin.
The news portal Axios reported that the Israeli attacks on the fuel depots went well beyond what the US had expected when Israel informed Washington in advance. This is said to have led to the first significant disagreement between the allies since the war began just over a week ago, the portal writes, citing a US official, an Israeli official and another informed source. The U.S. is concerned that Israeli attacks on infrastructure that serves the Iranian people could backfire strategically, according to the report. There are concerns that they could help support the leadership in Tehran and drive up oil prices.
New York/London (dpa) – As a result of the Iran war, the price of oil has risen to over $100 for the first time in years. The price of Brent, the most important North Sea variety in Europe, temporarily rose by almost 19 percent to almost 110 US dollars per barrel (159 liters). Immediately beforehand, at the start of trading in Chicago, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the dominant grade in the USA, had jumped above the $100 mark – a price level that had last been seen in 2022.
On Friday afternoon, Brent crude oil for delivery in May was trading above $90 for the first time since April 2024. Before the Iran war began a good week ago, the price was around $70 per barrel. Fuel prices have also risen significantly since then.
Fears of a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz remain a dominant theme in the oil market. Since the American-Israeli attacks on Iran, hardly any ships pass through the Persian Gulf strait. During peacetime, around a fifth of the world’s oil trade is transported through these every day. It is also very important for the transport of liquid gas, for example from Qatar.
