Categories: Energy

Oil prices rise as hopes for US-Iran peace deal fade

Oil prices rose on ​Wednesday, August 12, 2026, as doubts about a United States-Iran peace deal and attacks on two ships ‌fuelled concerns about Middle East supply disruptions.

Brent futures gained 72 cents, or 0.81%, to $89.63 a barrel by 0053 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 71 ​cents, or 0.85%, to $83.91.

Both benchmark contracts settled more than $1 higher on Tuesday, marking their ​highest closes since July 31 and extending gains after jumping about 5% on ⁠Monday as hopes for a peace deal between the United States and Iran began to fade.

The ​United States and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis reported separate attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and ​the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Tuesday.

Stock market reverses bullish run as investors lose N1.1trn

Iran’s top security official, Mohsen Rezaei, said on Tuesday that the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping route would remain closed unless the U.S. accepted Iran’s conditions for ending the war, including the ​release of frozen Iranian assets and an end to other conflicts across the region.

Shipping data ​showed that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped to six vessels on Monday, compared with a 10-day ‌average of ⁠about 11. Before the war, daily traffic through the waterway averaged 125 to 140 vessels.

Segun Ojo

Recent Posts

Liverpool’s injury crisis worsens as Gakpo withdraws from Netherlands squad

Netherlands winger Cody Gakpo has pulled out of the nation’s squad with an ankle problem,…

8 hours ago

EFCC secures N630m fines against 21 firms over illegal investment schemes

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction of 21 companies for allegedly…

9 hours ago

Eight teams battle for Zenith Bank NBBF Women’s Basketball League title

Eight teams will battle for the 2026 Zenith Bank NBBF Women’s Basketball League title as…

9 hours ago

inDrive clinches EDGE Mobility Company of the Decade award

inDrive, a global mobility and delivery services platform, has been named the EDGE Outstanding Mobility…

9 hours ago

Glovo invests N54bn in Nigeria, targets dustained digital growth

Glovo has reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria after investing more than N54 billion in the…

9 hours ago

Bandits kidnap over 80 in Niger, Zamfara attacks

No fewer than 80 people, mostly women, have been reported missing following separate bandit attacks…

10 hours ago

This website uses cookies.