Crude Oil Surges as US Deploys Third Carrier Strike Group to Middle East

Crude oil futures surged on Thursday, with front-month Nymex WTI closing up 2.7% at $92.87 per barrel and Brent climbing 4.4% to $102.31 per barrel. Prices accelerated following reports that the U.S. deployed a third aircraft carrier and up to 10,000 additional troops to the Middle East amid deadlocked negotiations with Iran. Market concerns intensified after a tanker was reportedly struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. Global supply fears were compounded by an IEA forecast raising the 2026 deficit to 1.7 million bpd, alongside Russia's extended diesel export ban and Chinese fuel export suspensions.