Iran Oil Prices Hold Near Four-Year Highs After U.S. Frees 140 Million Barrels
Brent crude closed at $112.19 a barrel Friday, its highest since July 2022, despite the U.S. move to temporarily release about 140 million barrels of stranded Iranian oil. The Strait of Hormuz remains mostly shut, with Iraq cutting Basra output to 900,000 barrels per day and declaring force majeure on foreign-operated oilfields. Middle East Dubai crude hit a record $166.80 a barrel Thursday as refiners scrambled for alternative supplies.