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Oil prices jumped on Friday to their highest settlement since July 2022 after Iraq declared force majeure on all oilfields developed by foreign oil firms. The Iran war escalated as the U.S. prepared to send thousands of additional Marines and sailors to the Middle East.
Brent settled at $112.19 a barrel and WTI front-month settled at $98.32.
Loss of Iraqi supply from foreign-operated fields tightens global crude availability, lifting crude prices and raising costs for energy-linked feed inputs such as freight and fuel. Higher energy costs also feed through to grain and meal production and transport.
reuters.comGeorgina MccartneyMar 20, 2026After 656 past bullish geopolitics events, BRENT moved a median +1.9% over 5 sessions (63% higher; middle half -2.7% to +6.6%), and +0.7% over 20.
After 626 past bullish geopolitics events, WTI moved a median +2.1% over 5 sessions (62% higher; middle half -2.3% to +8.5%), and +1.6% over 20.
After 250 past bullish geopolitics events, DIESEL moved a median +1.7% over 5 sessions (58% higher; middle half -3.6% to +8.7%), and +0.9% over 20.
Moves of each commodity's benchmark from the last close before the event. Historical reads pool past events of the same kind; they describe what happened, not what will. Not investment advice.
