Brent crude futures climbed in the session as geopolitical risk premiums hardened following comments from a top US military commander.
General Alexus Grynkewich, head of US European Command, acknowledged what he described as a strategic success for Iran in the ongoing conflict, a statement that has reignited concerns over supply chain stability in the Persian Gulf.
The remarks, published by The Washington Post, signal a shift in the military narrative surrounding the US-Israeli campaign against Iran.
For energy traders, the admission that Tehran has achieved strategic objectives in the region reinforces fears that the Strait of Hormuz remains a volatile chokepoint.
The Strait handles roughly a fifth of global oil consumption, and any perception of increased threat to tanker traffic immediately translates into higher forward prices for crude and refined products.
This development follows a series of aggressive warnings from Iranian leadership.