# Why oil prices are plunging despite U.S. sanctions on Iran’s energy sector - MarketWatch

> WTI crude has fallen about 17 percent from its October peak despite looming U.S. sanctions on Iranian energy. The 180-day wind-down period for dealings with Iran's energy sector ends Nov. 4. Oil had reached its highest level since 2014 in early October.

- Date: 2018-11-03 · published 2018-11-03T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: geopolitics · region Global · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/9155-why-oil-prices-are-plunging-despite-u-s-sanctions-on-iran-s-energy-sector
- Commodities: [Crude Oil (WTI)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WTI.md)

## Why it matters

Expected tighter Iranian supply has been offset by rising output elsewhere, so crude prices are falling, lowering energy-linked input costs for feed producers.

## Read by commodity

- WTI: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WTI | 2019-04-24 | [Oil falls as supply still adequate despite Iran sanctions, but market tightening - CNBC TV18](https://feedsoft.ai/events/8100-oil-falls-as-supply-still-adequate-despite-iran-sanctions-but-market-tightening.md) | -3.6% | -4.9% |
| WTI | 2020-09-21 | [Oil prices down 4% on expectations for return of Libyan crude production, global stock-market selloff - MarketWatch](https://feedsoft.ai/events/6766-oil-prices-down-4-on-expectations-for-return-of-libyan-crude-production-global.md) | -2.4% | -0.8% |
| WTI | 2026-04-08 | [Oil prices plunge on Trump's US-Iran ceasefire post](https://feedsoft.ai/events/6900-oil-prices-plunge-on-trump-s-us-iran-ceasefire-post.md) | -18.9% | -8.3% |
| WTI | 2026-05-05 | [Oil prices bounce off lows, as an Iran peace deal may be just a ‘structured pause’ - MarketWatch](https://feedsoft.ai/events/9583-oil-prices-bounce-off-lows-as-an-iran-peace-deal-may-be-just-a-structured-pause.md) | -7.6% | -11.4% |
| WTI | 2026-08-28 | [Nymex Overview: Oil Prices Easing, on Track to End Week Lower -- OPIS - MarketWatch](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18054-nymex-overview-oil-prices-easing-on-track-to-end-week-lower-opis-marketwatch.md) | +9.2% | +13.1% |

## Sources

- marketwatch.com: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-oil-prices-are-plunging-despite-us-sanctions-on-irans-energy-sector-2018-11-01

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