Brent exceeds US$ 79 per barrel after military escalation and impasse over navigation in the strait
The price of oil rose again this Monday (July 13, 2026) after the military escalation between the United States and Iran. A barrel of Brent, an international reference, surpassed US$79, while WTI (West Texas Intermediate), a US reference, was trading close to US$74. The advance reflects increased concerns about the global oil supply.
The rise comes after Iran says the Strait of Hormuz is closed and will remain so “until further notice”. Centcom (United States Central Command) contested the statement and reported having initiated new military operations to guarantee freedom of navigation in the region.
On Sunday (Jul 12), the US carried out the 4th round of attacks in a week. The offensives are, according to the US government, a response to an action by Iran against a Cypriot-flagged container ship.
In a note published on X, Centcom stated that they were hit “dozens of targets in multiple locations with precision munitions to degrade Iran’s ability to continue attacking international shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz”.
According to the agency, it was the first time that the US attacked Iranian military air defense systems, coastal radars and small vessels using combat aircraft, warships, one-way attack aerial drones and one-way maritime attack drones.
“The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime corridor for global trade. Iran does not control it. U.S. forces are positioned and prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available for commercial shipping despite Iran’s continued unwarranted aggression, harassment, threats, and arbitrary statements,” these.
The tension reduced maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a corridor through which around 1/5 of world trade in oil and liquefied natural gas passes. On Sunday (Jul 12), only 2 tankers approached the passage. The IEA (International Energy Agency) warned on Friday (July 1) that the conflict could jeopardize the recovery of global oil stocks, classified by the organization as reduced.
The worsening of the problem has also weakened the prospects for a diplomatic agreement. The speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said that the resumption of negotiations will depend on the fulfillment of US commitments on navigation in Hormuz and oil exports. US President Donald Trump (Republican Party) declared that the ceasefire “he finished”although he said that Washington remains open to dialogue.
Source: https://www.poder360.com.br/poder-internacional/preco-do-petroleo-dispara-com-novos-ataques-entre-eua-e-ira/
