Crude futures suffered a dramatic reversal on Monday after US President Donald Trump announced progress in talks with Iran and ordered a temporary halt to planned military strikes against the country’s energy infrastructure, according to Ship & Bunker.
The ICE May Brent contract fell to $100.49 per barrel as of 11:14 AM London time — a steep decline from an intraday high of $114.26/bl and well below Friday’s closing price of $112.19/bl, as reported by Ship & Bunker.
Trump Orders Five-Day Pause on Iran Strikes
In a social media post on Monday, President Trump announced that the United States had engaged in two days of dialogue with Iran, describing the outcome in notably positive terms.
“The United States of America and the country of Iran have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East,” Trump stated, as quoted by Ship & Bunker.
Following those discussions, Trump said he had directed the US Department of War to stand down from any planned action against Iranian facilities — at least for now.
“I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions,” he added.
Implications for the Shipping and Bunkering Sector
The sharp intraday swing in crude prices underscores how sensitive energy markets remain to developments involving Iran and regional stability in the Middle East. The temporary diplomatic pause has introduced a degree of near-term uncertainty into a market that had been pricing in elevated geopolitical risk.
Ship & Bunker notes that the five-day postponement is explicitly conditional, leaving the situation fluid as negotiations continue.
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Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
