economy
Oil Hits $115 a Barrel as Likelihood of US Ground Invasion of Iran Grows
Oil hit $115 a barrel on Sunday as the Iran conflict continues and the likelihood of a US ground invasion grows

TL;DR
- Oil prices reached $115.89 per barrel due to the Iran conflict and the potential for a US ground invasion.
- The conflict's escalation, including the possible involvement of Houthi rebels, has shaken investor confidence.
- ING Bank estimates that around 8 million barrels per day are already offline, with more flows through the Gulf vulnerable.
- If Iranian export facilities on Kharg Island are damaged, oil prices could exceed $120, with some analysts predicting $200.
- US national average gas prices reached $3.98 per gallon, with California averaging $5.86.
- Americans have collectively spent approximately $8 billion more on gasoline in the last month due to the conflict.
- President Trump expressed a desire to control Iran's oil and mentioned options like taking Kharg Island.
- Kharg Island terminal, crucial for Iran's oil exports, has been largely closed to shipping.
- Trump stated he spoke with Iran's parliament speaker, leading to the authorization of ten Pakistani-flagged oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.