# Traders pile into $80 US oil bets as tensions rise in Middle East

> Traders bought the most $80 WTI call options since January after Israeli strikes on Iran raised fears of a wider Middle East conflict. WTI settled 7.6% higher at $72.98 after trading as high as $77.62 intraday.

- Date: 2025-06-13 · published 2025-06-13T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: geopolitics · region Middle East · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/11154-traders-pile-into-80-us-oil-bets-as-tensions-rise-in-middle-east
- Commodities: [Crude Oil (WTI)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WTI.md), [ULSD / Diesel](https://feedsoft.ai/c/DIESEL.md)

## Why it matters

Options positioning points to expectations of further crude gains, which would raise diesel and freight costs for feed buyers and could support soybean oil through biofuel economics.

## Read by commodity

- WTI: bullish ▲
- DIESEL: bullish ▲

## Linked price moves

| Commodity | Date | Window | Change % | z-score | Why linked |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WTI | 2025-06-13 | 5 | +13.1% | 3.3 | WTI settled 7.6% higher with an intraday spike to $77.62 and heavy call buying, showing the geopolitical risk premium and sentiment behind the move. |
| WTI | 2025-06-15 | 5 | +11.4% | 3.1 | WTI settled 7.6% higher after an intraday high of $77.62, with heavy $80 call buying showing the risk premium building. |

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WTI | 2020-01-07 | [US, Iran tensions: Oil traders fear supply disruptions in Middle East](https://feedsoft.ai/events/55332-us-iran-tensions-oil-traders-fear-supply-disruptions-in-middle-east.md) | -8.1% | -21.6% |
| WTI | 2025-06-11 | [Oil prices jumps 4% to 2-month high as tensions rise in Middle East \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/11156-oil-prices-jumps-4-to-2-month-high-as-tensions-rise-in-middle-east-reuters.md) | +15.2% | +5.8% |
| WTI | 2018-04-15 | [Bullish forecast for oil prices as Middle East tensions rise](https://feedsoft.ai/events/65725-bullish-forecast-for-oil-prices-as-middle-east-tensions-rise.md) | +1.4% | +4.9% |
| WTI | 2019-06-14 | [Oil Market: Middle East tanker attacks, US-Iran tensions in focus](https://feedsoft.ai/events/58767-oil-market-middle-east-tanker-attacks-us-iran-tensions-in-focus.md) | +8.5% | +14.7% |
| WTI | 2025-12-29 | [USD/CAD slips to near 1.3650 as Oil prices gain on Middle East tensions](https://feedsoft.ai/events/21733-usd-cad-slips-to-near-1-3650-as-oil-prices-gain-on-middle-east-tensions.md) | +2.7% | +9.7% |
| DIESEL | 2026-10-02 | [Oil Rises as Mideast Tensions Sustain Supply-Disruption Fears](https://feedsoft.ai/events/9320-oil-rises-as-mideast-tensions-sustain-supply-disruption-fears.md) | +8.4% | +0.3% |
| DIESEL | 2026-07-23 | [Oil settles over $100 as Houthi attacks intensify Middle East supply risks \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/9925-oil-settles-over-100-as-houthi-attacks-intensify-middle-east-supply-risks.md) | +0.7% | +1.7% |
| DIESEL | 2026-03-15 | [Oil poised for further gains as Middle East conflict threatens export facilities \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/6639-oil-poised-for-further-gains-as-middle-east-conflict-threatens-export.md) | +15.6% | -4.9% |

## Sources

- reuters.com: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/traders-pile-into-80-us-oil-bets-tensions-rise-middle-east-2025-06-13/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.