Saudi Officials Warn Oil Could Surpass $180 a Barrel if Iran Conflict Persists

Saudi oil officials warned that if supply disruptions from the Iran war last beyond April, crude prices could top $180 a barrel, with Brent around $103 as the Strait of Hormuz disruptions and energy attacks keep markets volatile. A prolonged conflict could hurt economies and inflation and lift US gasoline prices, even as some analysts warn prices may stay elevated longer and threaten demand. While there are hopes prices could ease by summer, experts say there are no guarantees, and warnings about Saudi perceived profiteering reflect the war's broader geopolitical costs.