Over the weekend, Israeli forces struck three oil depots and a refinery in and around Tehran, causing large fires and reported toxic smoke; four people were killed. Axios reported late Sunday that Israel notified the United States in advance, with Israel claiming the facilities were being used to fuel missile launches.
Axios cited a U.S. official saying the strikes were more wide-ranging than expected and that the U.S. military was surprised; the official said, âWe donât think it was a good idea.â An Israeli official described the message from Washington as âWTF.â Neither the White House nor the Israel Defense Force commented in the reporting.
Following the strikes, oil prices rose sharply as trading resumed: Brent crude reached $107.97 and West Texas Intermediate reached $106.22, each up roughly 16% from the prior close, surpassing $100 per barrel for the first time in nearly four years. Iran warned that further strikes on oil infrastructure could prompt similar responses and push prices higher.