0754 GMT - Oil prices rise as the U.S. and Iran threaten to widen their targets and escalate the war, with President Trump giving Tehran a deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude rises 1.5% to $113.88 a barrel, while WTI is up 3.5% to $98.06 a barrel. Trump said Iran must "fully open" the waterway by Monday evening Washington time, or its power plants will be hit. Meanwhile, Tehran said it would attack key infrastructure across the Middle East if Trump followed through. "With production and exports heavily constrained, investors are sensitive to any threats to supply that could drag on the post-conflict recovery," analysts at BMI say. Brent could reach the $110-$130 a barrel range over the next one-to-two weeks if the conflict drags on, they add. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 23, 2026 03:54 ET (07:54 GMT)
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