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19 February
What oil hitting $70 a barrel would signal about Iran and U.S. tensions
Illustration of a barrel of oil with "$70" printed on it, overlaid on a map of Iran and an image of missiles with the Iranian flag.
Traders are watching oil prices climb after the U.S. said it was keeping all military options with Iran on the table. Photo: MarketWatch photo illustration/iStockphoto, Getty Images

Oil prices pushed sharply higher Wednesday after the U.S. said the use of military force against Iran remained an option following a lack of a breakthrough in talks over Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.

U.S. crude futures CL00 CLJ26 rose more than 4.5%, or $2.79, settling at $65.05 a barrel, the biggest daily jump since Oct. 23, for the most-active contract, according to Dow Jones Market Data. That put West Texas Intermediate crude close to its highest level of 2026, as well as in the upper end of the range in recent months when fears of another U.S. strike against Iran have been acute.