Brent Crude Tops $100 a Barrel as US–Iran Conflict Escalates

Brent crude oil prices have surpassed the key psychological level of $100 per barrel amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran in the Middle East. The Bab al-Mandab strait connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden — a critical chokepoint for global shipping — could become the next zone of military activity. The conflict threatens to further destabilise global energy markets.