Overview

The article reports that Brent crude futures experienced a 38% decline in the second quarter of 2026, the steepest quarterly drop since the first quarter of 2020, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell 1%.

Price Levels

For the September contract, Brent settled at $73.42 a barrel, down 0.7%, and the August WTI contract settled at $70.05 a barrel, down 1%.

Q1 Surge Context

In the first quarter, Brent surged 94.5%, delivering its best quarterly advance since 1990, driven by a joint U.S.–Israeli attack on Iran at the end of February that effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, creating the largest supply disruption on record and triggering a global inflationary shock.

Geopolitical Developments

On 17 June 2026, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in France that mandated the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without charges and the termination of a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports. Subsequent peace talks in Switzerland led to the easing of U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil production and exports. TankerTrackers.com reported that Iran exported 50 million barrels of crude in June, equivalent to 1.66 million barrels per day.

Ongoing Tensions

Early in the week, a renewed exchange of strikes between the United States and Iran raised concerns, prompting President Donald Trump to announce that the parties would resume peace talks in Doha. White House officials affirmed that the strait remains open to tanker traffic, while Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated Tehran would continue to jointly oversee maritime traffic even if Oman does not participate.

Market Commentary

Analysts at ANZ noted that although crude prices have largely retraced the conflict‑driven gains, tighter refined‑fuel markets indicate underlying supply constraints, suggesting refinery margins may remain supported despite subdued benchmark prices.

U.S. President’s Remarks on Gasoline

President Trump used his Truth Social platform to demand that U.S. gasoline retailers immediately lower prices, targeting $2.50 per gallon and criticizing California’s gasoline taxes. He warned of “big problems” for retailers that do not comply.

Gasoline Price Data

According to the American Automobile Association, the national average gasoline price stood at $3.8470 per gallon on Tuesday, representing an 11.7% decline from the previous month.

Publication Details

The article, authored by Anuron Mitra with contributions from Roushni Nair and Scott Kanowsky, was published on 30 June 2026 at 06:58 am and updated on 1 July 2026 at 03:08 am. The source is Reuters and Investing.com.