Oil Prices Tumble: Iran Wants To Talk, But I Say, Let's Keep Talking!

Uh Oh Did Someone Say 'Peace'?

Alright people Tony Stark here your friendly neighborhood genius billionaire playboy philanthropist and occasional oil analyst. Seems like the black gold market took a bit of a tumble today. Why? Apparently Iran's feeling chatty. Reports are swirling faster than Rhodey trying to catch up with me that they want to end the whole 'boom boom' act with Israel and get back to those good old nuclear talks. U.S. crude oil took a $1.93 or 2.64% hit landing at $71.05 per barrel. Brent Crude? Down $1.99 or 2.68% to $72.24. I'm no mathematician but even I can see that's not great...for my oil investments anyway. Don't tell Pepper.

Trump's Two Cents (Or Maybe Two Billion?)

Now you know I can't resist weighing in on anything remotely resembling a political circus. Trump never one to shy away from the spotlight chimed in saying Iran 'would like to talk but they should have done that before.' Classic Trump! Always a dealmaker even when things are exploding...literally. Honestly I'm starting to think 'peace talks' is just a fancy code word for 'let's all agree to disagree while secretly building bigger bombs'. JARVIS run the simulations. How long before someone tries to weaponize 'agree to disagree'?

Kaboom! Then... Meh.

Remember when Israel targeted those natural gas facilities and oil prices went all 'to the moon!'? Good times! Or you know bad times for everyone except maybe the guys selling gas masks. U.S. crude touched $77.49 a barrel overnight. But then BAM! Optimism. Apparently the world decided the conflict wasn't THAT big of a deal for the global energy market. Seriously? These guys are acting like I don’t have enough problems with Ultron rising from the grave every Tuesday.

Rystad's Crystal Ball: Cloudy With a Chance of Stability?

According to some consulting firm called Rystad Energy oil prices probably won't break $80 a barrel. The Trump administration in their infinite wisdom apparently wants prices closer to $50. Look I know a thing or two about engineering solutions but can we engineer a stable oil market? I mean I can build a suit that flies to space and back but predicting the oil market is harder than getting Rhodey to stop quoting Top Gun. 'I feel the need... the need for crude!'

Attack of the Drones (and Missiles!)

So Israel hit some gas fields and oil depots. Iran retaliated by dinging up an oil refinery in Haifa. Sounds like a very expensive game of 'You hit me I hit you harder!' The attacks have been going on for days with Israel claiming 'aerial superiority'. Of course I could solve this whole thing with a few well placed repulsor blasts but then what would I blog about? Besides Pepper said 'no more international incidents this week'. She's such a buzzkill.

Strait Up Crazy: Hormuz in Jeopardy?

Here's the kicker: Iran is apparently considering shutting down the Strait of Hormuz. That's like a fifth of the world's oil supply people! Goldman Sachs says that could send oil prices soaring past $100 a barrel. Other analysts are skeptical citing the U.S. Fifth Fleet hanging out in Bahrain. But some are saying Iran could target tankers and mine the straits. Which brings to mind: 'Is it better to be feared or respected? I say is it too much to ask for both?' Let's hope cooler heads prevail. Or at least someone invests in a REALLY big oil tanker protection system. Maybe I should look into that...