Oil prices crossed the symbolic threshold of $100 a barrel on Monday, April 13, 2026, reacting to CENTCOM's announcement of a naval blockade of all Iranian ports. Brent crude, the international benchmark, reached $103.20 at the start of European trading, a 4.7% rise compared to Friday's closing price, CNN Business reports. US WTI followed suit, settling at $99.80.

Stock Markets Decline

The shockwave spread to equity markets. The Associated Press indicates that Asian markets mostly fell: the Nikkei 225 lost 1.8%, the Hang Seng 2.1%, while S&P 500 futures shed 1.2% before the Wall Street opening. Only the energy sector benefited, with gains of 3% to 5% for oil majors such as ExxonMobil and Shell. Gold, the ultimate safe haven, advanced 1.3% to settle at $3,285 an ounce.

Worst-Case Scenario: $120 a Barrel?

Analysts at Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan released emergency notes on Monday morning. If the Strait of Hormuz blockade lasts more than a week, Brent could reach $120, a level that would trigger a global inflationary wave. "The Strait of Hormuz accounts for 20% of global oil. A prolonged blockade is an oil shock comparable to 1973," warns a Goldman analyst quoted by the Financial Times.

Impact on Consumers

For motorists and households, the consequences could be rapid. Pump prices in Europe, already high due to tensions since February, risk climbing by 10 to 15 cents per liter in the coming days. In the United States, a gallon of gasoline could again exceed $4.50, a politically sensitive threshold less than two years before the midterm elections. The European Central Bank and the Federal Reserve are closely monitoring the situation; any sustained oil price surge would complicate their interest rate reduction strategy.