Oil Prices Surge After U.S. Strikes Iranian Nuclear Sites, Wall Street Reacts with Unease

Global markets opened to volatility late Sunday as oil prices jumped sharply following a major escalation in Middle East tensions: the United States carried out military strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities Saturday evening, marking a significant deepening of the Iran-Israel conflict.

Oil Prices Climb on Rising Geopolitical Risk

In the immediate aftermath, U.S. crude oil futures surged 3.6%, reaching $76.47 per barrel, while Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose 3.2% to $74.59 per barrel. The spike reflects growing concern that broader conflict in the region could disrupt oil production or shipping routes—especially in the energy-critical Persian Gulf.

U.S. Stock Futures Dip as Investors Brace for Fallout

Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures slid as traders weighed the potential ripple effects of the strikes. Dow futures dropped 250 points, or 0.6%, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures falling 0.6% and 0.7%, respectively.

The sell-off suggests Wall Street is bracing for uncertainty, with investors shifting to more defensive positions amid the heightened geopolitical risk.

Dollar Rises Amid Global Tensions

Interestingly, the U.S. dollar rose 0.3%, signaling a return to its traditional role as a “safe haven” in times of global turmoil. The uptick comes despite previous doubts that the dollar would maintain that status under former President Trump’s “America First” policies and recent import tariffs.

Analysts had questioned whether the dollar could continue serving as a global fallback asset, but Sunday’s reaction suggests that—even amid policy shifts—confidence in the U.S. currency remains strong in crisis moments.

Bottom Line:

Markets are responding swiftly to a high-stakes development in the Middle East, with oil prices rising, stocks slipping, and the dollar regaining strength. As the situation unfolds, all eyes will remain on the region—and how financial markets continue to react to rising instability.