Fact Check: "Crude oil prices surged more than 10% following the Israeli strike that killed Amir Ali Hajizadeh."
What We Know
On June 12, 2025, Israeli airstrikes reportedly targeted Iranian military leaders, including General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps' aerospace unit. This military action led to a significant escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran, with Iran launching retaliatory missile strikes against Israel shortly thereafter (source-2).
Following these events, crude oil prices experienced a notable increase. Reports indicate that Brent crude oil prices rose nearly 9% to approximately $78 a barrel on the day of the strikes (source-4). Other sources also reported that oil prices surged by more than 8% as the situation escalated (source-8). However, there is no confirmation that prices specifically surged by more than 10% as claimed.
Analysis
The claim that crude oil prices surged more than 10% following the Israeli strike is partially supported by the data available. While there was indeed a significant increase in oil pricesβreported as nearly 9%βthe specific threshold of 10% was not reached according to the most reliable and recent sources (source-4, source-8).
The sources used for this analysis are credible, including major news outlets like The New York Times and CNBC, which are known for their rigorous reporting standards. However, the claim's accuracy hinges on the precise percentage increase, which is critical in financial reporting. The absence of a definitive statement confirming a 10% increase suggests that the claim may be exaggerated.
Conclusion
Needs Research. While there was a substantial increase in crude oil prices following the Israeli strikes, the claim that prices surged more than 10% is not substantiated by the available data. The reported increases hover around 8-9%, indicating that further verification is needed to confirm or refute the specific percentage increase.
Sources
- The Nuclear Future of the Middle East
- Live Updates: Israeli Strikes Wipe Out Iran's Top Military Chain of ...
- Oil settles up, biggest weekly gains in over a year on Middle East war ...
- Oil Prices Surge and Stock Markets Stumble After Israel ...
- Oil prices rise following Hamas attack on Israel - BBC
- Iran hits Israel with a second wave of missiles | AP News
- Israel-Hamas war causes spike in oil prices. Here's what it means for ...
- Oil prices surge after Israel launches airstrikes against Iran