Oil Markets Ignore Mounting Risks at Their Own Peril

Escalating U.S.-Iran hostilities, attacks on critical infrastructure, and near-halted Hormuz tanker traffic are fueling expectations of higher oil prices. Friday, July 17, 2026 US forces striking civilian infrastructure in Iran, Tehran attacking a Kuwaiti power and desalination plant, repeated attacks on tankers in the Hormuz Strait and the potential extension of maritime warfare towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait – all this points towards oil prices continuing their upward movement in the days to