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Oil's roller coaster ride

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13.03.2026

Oil's roller coaster ride

The U.S.–Israel war with Iran has rattled global energy markets, pushing oil prices sharply higher and disrupting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz

Jackyenjoyphotography / Getty Images

A version of this article originally appeared in Quartz’s Washington newsletter. Sign up here to get the latest business and economic news and insights from Washington straight to your inbox.

President Donald Trump started the year seeking $50 per barrel of crude oil to make progress on bringing down the cost of living at home. A new war in the Middle East and the historic volatility it set off means he won’t be reaching that magic number anytime soon.

The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has rippled through energy markets and sent oil prices rocketing upward since it began nearly two weeks ago. Commercial shipping and oil tanker traffic has plummeted in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway near Iran that handles around one-fifth of global natural gas shipments. 

Iran, meanwhile, lashed out by launching drone and missile attacks at critical energy facilities throughout the Persian Gulf.

Energy analysts........

© Quartz