Brent crude fell 4.0% to settle at $109.87 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped 3.9% to $102.27. The pullback followed a roughly 6% surge on Monday, with analysts pointing to a mix of technical correction and improved sentiment around geopolitical developments.
Market pressure came as reports indicated that at least some vessels had begun transiting the Strait of Hormuz under U.S. military escort, suggesting a potential—albeit limited—resumption of flows through the critical shipping corridor. U.S. officials also maintained that the ceasefire with Iran remains in place despite ongoing exchanges of fire.
However, conditions remain fragile. Conflicting accounts persist regarding shipping activity, while regional tensions continue, including reported missile and drone threats in the United Arab Emirates. These developments underscore the lack of clarity around the durability of the ceasefire and the pace of any meaningful supply normalization.
The Strait of Hormuz remains the central variable for oil markets. Prior to the conflict, the waterway handled roughly 20% of global oil and LNG flows, and even modest improvements in transit are influencing price direction.
Looking ahead, attention is shifting to U.S. inventory data for further signals on supply-demand balance. Expectations for another crude draw point to continued tightness, reinforcing the broader theme of constrained supply despite intermittent geopolitical relief.