Oil prices stay above $100 as Iran and Oman delay Strait of Hormuz talks

# Why This Matters The stalled negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz directly threaten global energy security and economic stability. Nearly one-third of all seaborne oil passes through this narrow waterway, and the prolonged uncertainty—combined with active regional conflict—is keeping energy markets in a state of perpetual anxiety that translates immediately into elevated prices at the pump and across industrial supply chains. For consumers and businesses worldwide, every week without diplomatic progress means sustained pressure on everything from transportation costs to heating bills to manufacturing expenses. The longer Iran and Oman delay talks, the greater the risk that a single escalation in Houthi attacks or a miscalculation between regional powers could trigger a genuine supply crisis, potentially sending oil toward $150 or higher and cascading into recession across oil-dependent economies.