Military Escalation Against Iran Pushes Oil to $120 as IEA Plans Record Emergency Release

Key Facts

1U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warns that Wednesday will see the most intense strikes yet in 'Operation Epic Fury'.

2The IEA is planning its largest-ever emergency crude release to combat Brent and WTI prices reaching the $120 level.

3Reports indicate Iran has begun mining the Strait of Hormuz, with the U.S. military claiming to have eliminated 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels.

Global energy markets are facing extreme volatility as military operations intensify under Operation Epic Fury against Iran. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Wednesday will mark the most intense phase of airstrikes, driving Brent and WTI crude prices toward the $120 threshold. In response to the price surge, the IEA is preparing its largest-ever emergency crude release to stabilize global markets. Geopolitical tensions have escalated further following reports of Iran mining the Strait of Hormuz, with the U.S. military claiming to have neutralized 16 mine-laying vessels. This combination of supply disruption fears and massive strategic intervention is creating a high-stakes environment for energy and safe-haven assets like XAU/USD. Analysts expect continued price swings as the market weighs the impact of military conflict against the scale of the IEA's intervention.