Oil Prices Breach 100 Dollars per Barrel Amid Threats of Attacks on Iran's Energy Facilities
Jakarta — Global oil prices surged and breached the 100 dollar per barrel level on the evening of 15 March 2026, with the spike occurring amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran.
According to CNBC reporting, United States crude oil of the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) variety increased 2.64 per cent to 101.32 dollars per barrel, or approximately 1.71 million rupiah per barrel at an exchange rate of 16,939 rupiah per dollar.
Brent crude, which serves as the global benchmark, also climbed. Brent prices rose 2.94 per cent to 106.17 dollars per barrel, or approximately 1.80 million rupiah per barrel.
The price increase emerged after the Trump administration began considering strikes against Iran’s principal oil export facilities on Kharg Island.
Trump also warned of possible attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure should the country continue attacking tanker ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Mike Waltz, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, stated that strikes would be deliberately limited to military targets.
“He deliberately struck only military infrastructure, for now,” Waltz told CNN.
“And I am confident he will maintain that option if he wishes to destroy their energy infrastructure,” he added.
Iran produced approximately 3.2 million barrels of oil per day in February, according to data from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
JPMorgan analysts assess that a direct strike against export facilities on the island could trigger major disruptions to global oil supply.
Natasha Kaneva, JPMorgan’s global commodities strategy head, assessed that such an attack could halt most of Iran’s crude oil exports, which reach approximately 1.5 million barrels per day.
According to her, the measure also risks provoking a harsh response from Iran.
“This is likely to trigger ‘severe retaliation’ by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz or against regional energy infrastructure,” Kaneva wrote in a note to clients.