Iran’s IRGC warns it could block oil exports if US, Israel attacks continue
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that Tehran will determine when the war ends, not the United States (US). The IRGC warned that if US and Israeli attacks continue, Iran could block regional oil exports.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump stated that if Iran does anything that stops flow of oil through strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the US.
Late Monday, Trump said that he was eyeing a quick end to the war in Iran, as some of his advisers privately urged him to look for an exit plan amid spiking oil prices and concerns that a lengthy conflict could spark political backlash. He said that he thought it would be over “very soon.”
Key quotes from Iran's IRGC
We are the ones who will determine the end of the war.
Tehran would not allow export of one litre of oil from region if US, Israeli attacks continue.
Iran's guards spokesperson warns that security in the region will be for everyone or for no one.
Market reaction
At the time of writing, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is down 0.10% on the day at $82.72, retreating from over three-year highs of $113.28 in the previous session.
WTI Oil FAQs
WTI Oil is a type of Crude Oil sold on international markets. The WTI stands for West Texas Intermediate, one of three major types including Brent and Dubai Crude. WTI is also referred to as “light” and “sweet” because of its relatively low gravity and sulfur content respectively. It is considered a high quality Oil that is easily refined. It is sourced in the United States and distributed via the Cushing hub, which is considered “The Pipeline Crossroads of the World”. It is a benchmark for the Oil market and WTI price is frequently quoted in the media.
Like all assets, supply and demand are the key drivers of WTI Oil price. As such, global growth can be a driver of increased demand and vice versa for weak global growth. Political instability, wars, and sanctions can disrupt supply and impact prices. The decisions of OPEC, a group of major Oil-producing countries, is another key driver of price. The value of the US Dollar influences the price of WTI Crude Oil, since Oil is predominantly traded in US Dollars, thus a weaker US Dollar can make Oil more affordable and vice versa.
The weekly Oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) impact the price of WTI Oil. Changes in inventories reflect fluctuating supply and demand. If the data shows a drop in inventories it can indicate increased demand, pushing up Oil price. Higher inventories can reflect increased supply, pushing down prices. API’s report is published every Tuesday and EIA’s the day after. Their results are usually similar, falling within 1% of each other 75% of the time. The EIA data is considered more reliable, since it is a government agency.
OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a group of 12 Oil-producing nations who collectively decide production quotas for member countries at twice-yearly meetings. Their decisions often impact WTI Oil prices. When OPEC decides to lower quotas, it can tighten supply, pushing up Oil prices. When OPEC increases production, it has the opposite effect. OPEC+ refers to an expanded group that includes ten extra non-OPEC members, the most notable of which is Russia.