Geopolitical Whiplash Hits Oil Prices as Hormuz Reopens, Then Shuts

Oil markets experienced extreme volatility Friday and into Saturday as the status of the Strait of Hormuz shifted from open to effectively closed, according to conflicting reports from the region. The price swings have direct implications for Bakken crude pricing and operator revenues.

On Friday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared the Strait of Hormuz "completely open" for commercial traffic, according to a report from Rigzone. The announcement, tied to a ceasefire in Lebanon, sent Brent crude prices plunging more than 11% to around $88 a barrel. U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the move in a social media post.

However, by Saturday, the situation had sharply reversed. According to a report from OilPrice.com, Iran has moved to restrict vessel traffic, turning back at least 20 vessels and declaring the waterway closed. The report states U.S. enforcement actions have redirected additional ships, bringing total disruptions to more than 20 tankers. Iranian naval forces issued radio warnings declaring the strait closed, citing a failure by Washington to uphold ceasefire commitments.

Security risks are escalating. OilPrice.com reported that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps has carried out multiple attacks on commercial vessels in recent days, with shipowners reporting gunfire incidents. Two Indian-flagged vessels, including a VLCC carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude, were attacked near the strait.

The conflicting signals leave global oil flows at risk and markets bracing for further volatility. The sharp selloff on Friday may prove short-lived if physical constraints persist, according to the OilPrice.com analysis. For Bakken producers, the instability underscores the continued geopolitical premium influencing global crude benchmarks, which directly affect the price received for North Dakota light sweet crude.

In other energy infrastructure news, Permian Basin landowner EagleRock Land LLC filed for an initial public offering, according to a separate Rigzone report. The Houston-based company, which owns or controls 236,000 acres across the Permian, generates revenue and royalties from oil and gas companies drilling on its land. The company reported a net loss of $73.1 million on revenue of $72.2 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025. It plans to use IPO proceeds to repay debt and fund land acquisitions.

While focused on the Permian, the move highlights the value of mineral and surface rights in major producing basins. EagleRock's filing notes it hopes to earn additional revenue from other land uses including data centers, wind and solar farms, and transmission lines. The offering is being led by Goldman Sachs, Barclays, and JPMorgan Chase.