US and Iran pause attacks for third night, pulling oil back from the brink

Three nights of quiet can move markets more than most earnings reports. The US and Iran have now avoided direct military action for a third consecutive night, and energy traders wasted no time pricing in the relief: oil benchmarks dropped roughly 4.9%, pulling the price back to around $92.02 per barrel. That number needs context. Oil had surged to over $118 per barrel at the peak of the conflict, a run-up that represented a cumulative gain of roughly 30% since hostilities escalated on February 28, 2026. How we got here The current tension traces back to late February, when a series of US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets set off a sharp escalation cycle. Iranian retaliation included attacks on tankers and other maritime targets, causing significant interruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for nearly 20% of global oil supply. Prices climbed past $118 per barrel at the conflict’s peak, a level that began filtering through to everything from jet fuel to petrochemicals. Crypto caught in the crossfire, and the recovery During the sharpest escalations, Bitcoin slipped below $73K. As ceasefire signals emerged, Bitcoin moved back toward $72K. What made this cycle dif...