Brent Rises as US Deploys More Forces to Middle East

2026-10-01 19:58 By Isabela Couto 1 min. read

Brent crude climbed above $102.5 a barrel on Thursday after reports that the US is sending a third aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East.

Marine Corps ships and up to 10,000 additional troops are also reportedly being deployed, with the forces expected to arrive by the end of November.

The deployment could signal preparations for further US military action against Iran.

US President Donald Trump has reportedly told aides he expects to resume bombing Iran after the November midterm elections.

Oil prices are rising even as crude flows from the Middle East have largely recovered to prewar levels.

However, the recovery remains fragile, with at least three tankers attacked this week while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran and its Houthi allies have also attacked regional refineries.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries prompted Moscow to ban diesel exports, while Chinese refiners canceled some gasoline and jet fuel exports planned for October.



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Brent Rises as US Deploys More Forces to Middle East
Brent crude climbed above $102.5 a barrel on Thursday after reports that the US is sending a third aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East. Marine Corps ships and up to 10,000 additional troops are also reportedly being deployed, with the forces expected to arrive by the end of November. The deployment could signal preparations for further US military action against Iran. US President Donald Trump has reportedly told aides he expects to resume bombing Iran after the November midterm elections. Oil prices are rising even as crude flows from the Middle East have largely recovered to prewar levels. However, the recovery remains fragile, with at least three tankers attacked this week while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran and its Houthi allies have also attacked regional refineries. Meanwhile, Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries prompted Moscow to ban diesel exports, while Chinese refiners canceled some gasoline and jet fuel exports planned for October.
2026-10-01
Brent Crude Approaches $100
Brent crude rose toward $100 a barrel on Thursday as reports of tighter Chinese fuel supplies added to concerns over an already disrupted global market. PetroChina has reportedly withdrawn several gasoline and jet-fuel cargoes scheduled for October, with Beijing seeking to preserve domestic inventories. The move comes as energy markets continue to absorb disruptions linked to the conflict involving the US and Iran, as well as the war in Ukraine. At the same time, concerns over outright crude shortages have eased somewhat after Saudi Arabia resumed tanker loadings at Yanbu following the restart of its East-West pipeline. Middle Eastern crude shipments were approaching pre-war levels, although refined fuel availability, particularly gasoline, remained tighter. Investors are also monitoring diplomatic developments, with uncertainty surrounding US-Iran negotiations persisting after indirect discussions involving mediators were held during the UN General Assembly.
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Brent Rises on Middle East Uncertainty
Brent crude rose toward $100 per barrel on Thursday, reversing losses from earlier in the session as investors weighed signs of rising Middle East energy flows against an ongoing impasse in US-Iran negotiations. Crude shipments from the region were approaching pre-war levels, with estimates indicating flows through the Strait of Hormuz reached 13.2 million barrels per day, while Saudi Arabia restored half the capacity of its East-West pipeline. However, markets remain cautious about the sustainability of the recovery without a lasting agreement to end the Iran war, with both Tehran and Washington claiming full control over Hormuz. Meanwhile, Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said Tehran had received a US proposal concerning the reopening of the strategic waterway. Elsewhere, OPEC+ is expected to leave November output quotas unchanged at its meeting this weekend.
2026-10-01