Crude prices fell more than 2% on Friday (March 20, 2026) after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran was being “decimated” and that the war would end earlier than many feared. “This war is ending a lot faster than people think,” he said without providing a specific timeframe. Mr. Netanyahu also said he would help the United States try to secure Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil and gas flows. His comments came after Washington said there was no deadline to end the war launched against Iran on February 28. “You do not rebuild liquefaction trains, repair export terminals, or restore confidence in global shipping lanes with a press conference.”

Source: The Hindu March 20, 2026 17:48 UTC