WTI extended its rally for a second session, trading near $90.70 a barrel in Asian hours on Thursday, as crude markets reacted to a second day of US strikes on Iran and renewed concern over supply disruption from a drawn-out conflict. Trump said the US would strike Iran “very hard” absent an interim peace deal, while Iranian officials said they would resist external threats. The escalation followed a US “self-defence” strike after an American helicopter was shot down, and subsequent Iranian attacks on US facilities in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait.
Trump also said the US military covertly escorted more than 100 million barrels of oil—about one day of global consumption—through the Strait of Hormuz, and he compared current crude levels of $85 to $90 with a scenario in which prices could have reached $250. Separately, EIA data showed US crude inventories fell 7.2 million barrels last week versus a 4-million-barrel draw expected in a Reuters poll, while the SPR slipped to its lowest level since August 2023; the Department of Energy said it is seeking to loan up to 40 million barrels from the reserve.
Geopolitical Tension As The Primary Driver Of Oil Prices
We see the escalating military conflict between the US and Iran as the primary driver for crude oil prices in the immediate future. The direct strikes and retaliatory attacks are creating significant uncertainty, which markets will price in as a risk premium. With West Texas Intermediate already pushing past $90, the path of least resistance appears to be upward.
Given this environment, we believe volatility is the most important factor for traders to watch. The CBOE Crude Oil Volatility Index (OVX) has already jumped over 35% in the past week to trade around 45, its highest level this year. This indicates that options premiums are expanding, and the market is bracing for sharp price movements in the coming weeks.
Supply Tightness, Volatility, And Trade Positioning
We are positioning for this by looking at buying call options that would profit from a continued price rise. Open interest has been building in the July and August WTI contracts, especially around the $100 and $110 strike prices, suggesting many traders anticipate a significant rally. These instruments offer a defined-risk way to capture potential upside from further conflict escalation.
The fundamental supply picture strongly supports this bullish outlook. The unexpected 7.2-million-barrel drop in US inventories, combined with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve hitting its lowest point since August 2023, shows there is very little buffer to absorb any supply shocks. The government’s plan to loan oil from the SPR is a temporary measure that highlights the current tightness of the market.
Historically, geopolitical shocks have led to extreme price spikes, as seen in early 2022 when WTI briefly topped $130 per barrel following the conflict in Ukraine. The current situation with a direct confrontation involving Iran, a major oil producer, has the potential for a similar, if not greater, impact. This precedent suggests that a move well above $100 is not out of the question.
Any disruption to the Strait of Hormuz remains the most significant risk, as about 21 million barrels of oil pass through it daily. A prolonged conflict threatens this critical chokepoint, and even minor interruptions could send prices soaring. Therefore, we are maintaining a long bias and expect volatility to remain elevated.
