The paradox gripping global energy markets in mid-June 2026 is stark. Brent crude futures — the benchmark “paper” oil traded on exchanges — have hovered around $90–$98 per barrel despite more than 100 days of war involving Iran that has severely disrupted flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly 20% of the […]
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In the high-stakes waters of the Strait of Hormuz, where roughly 20% of global oil trade flows daily, a dramatic incident unfolded on June 8-9, 2026, that underscores the unseen military efforts keeping energy markets stable. A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter was struck by an Iranian Shahed drone, forcing an emergency ditching into the […]
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In a significant sign that Gulf crude is once again finding its way to market, Kuwait is offering at least 4 million barrels of its main export-grade crude to Asian refiners—the first such sales to the region since the Iran war erupted in late February 2026. The volumes are loaded onto two very large crude […]
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In a statement that underscores the deepening fog of miscommunication between Tehran and Washington, Iran’s Ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, told Russia’s Izvestia newspaper that the Strait of Hormuz will ultimately reopen — but only under new conditions set jointly by Iran and Oman, including transit fees for “services” provided in the waterway. “Of course, […]
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David Blackmon, Dr. Tammy Nemeth, and Stu were on deck, and we covered Irina Slav’s great Oilprice.com’s great story. The world is changing, and the energy markets are at the center stage. Today David Blackmon was the host accompanied by Stu Turley, and Dr. Tammy Nemeth on the The Nemeth Report. Irina Slav was out, but we covered […]
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The Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and significant LNG volumes flow — has remained effectively closed since early March 2026 following the escalation of the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict. Iran has suspended talks and signaled the blockade could become permanent absent major concessions. In a wide-ranging interview with […]
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In a striking display of persistence amid one of the most volatile energy chokepoints in the world, QatarEnergy has successfully moved its ninth known LNG cargo out of the Persian Gulf since the Iran conflict erupted in late February 2026. Bloomberg energy reporter Stephen Stapczynski highlighted the latest transit on X today, noting that the […]
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The global oil tanker industry is riding an unprecedented wave of profits fueled by the ongoing Iran conflict, but shipowners are already bracing for a sharp reversal. According to a new Financial Times report, tanker owners are warning of a potential market crash if the Strait of Hormuz reopens or as broader market forces take […]
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The U.S. naval blockade of Iran, enforced since mid-April 2026, is delivering a measurable blow to Tehran’s oil-dependent economy. Iranian crude and condensate exports have plummeted from nearly 2 million barrels per day (bpd) earlier this year to below 300,000 bpd in May, according to trade intelligence firm Kpler. At conservative Brent prices around $90 […]
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U.S. forces conducted a maritime interdiction and boarded the stateless supertanker MT Davina (also known as Lenore) overnight in the Indian Ocean, the Pentagon and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) confirmed on June 5, 2026. The vessel, a very large crude carrier (VLCC) capable of carrying up to two million barrels of oil, was operating as […]
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