Oil rises 3% after Iran strikes Middle East energy facilities

try{ var _=i o; . if(!_||_&&typeof _==="object"&&_.expiry Oil prices jump over 3%, WTI touches $100/barrel on Iran escalation Brent tops $110 after hit on world’s largest natural gas field, Fed uncertainty Gold prices hit over a one-month low after Fed holds rates steady as expected Stocks end in the red after Fed expresses uncertainty over impact of oil shock 55% Off - FLASH SALE (South Africa Philippines Nigeria) 55% Off - FLASH SALE Oil rises 3% after Iran strikes Middle East energy facilities By Commodities Published 03/18/2026, 09:58 PM Updated 03/18/2026, 10:00 PM Oil rises 3% after Iran strikes Middle East energy facilities 0 CL 1.29% Brent Spot US Dollar 0.13% WTCLc1-LCOc1 -25.59% By Sam Li and Lewis Jackson BEIJING, March 19 - Oil prices rose as much as 3% on Thursday after Iran attacked several energy facilities across the Middle East following a strike on its South Pars gas field, a major escalation in Tehran’s war with the U.S. and Israel. Brent futures were up $3.69, or 3.44%, to $111.07 by 0142 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $2.29, or 2.38%, to $98.61. Brent closed up 3.8% on Wednesday, while WTI settled nearly flat. WTI has been trading at its widest discount to Brent in 11 years due to releases from U.S. strategic reserves and higher freight costs, while renewed attacks on Middle Eastern energy facilities have given greater support to Brent. QatarEnergy said on Wednesday that Iranian missile attacks on Ras Laffan, site of Qatar’s core LNG processing operations, caused "extensive damage" to its energy hub. The United Arab Emirates also shut some energy operations, responding to incidents at the Habshan gas facilities and the Bab oil field caused by falling debris from intercepted missiles. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, said it had intercepted and destroyed four ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh on Wednesday and an attempted drone attack on a gas facility. Iran issued evacuation warnings before its attacks for several oil facilit...