Trump Options Escalate Amid Ongoing Middle East Tensions

Crude oil prices have stabilized around $93 per barrel after a two-session gain, as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate. The US is considering sending another aircraft carrier to the region, which could lead to further disruptions to energy supplies.

The Pentagon is weighing the deployment of 10,000 sailors and Marines to the Persian Gulf, giving President Donald Trump more options for military action against Iran. Trump has reportedly told aides that he expects to resume bombing Iran after the November midterm elections.

These developments come as crude flows from the Middle East have largely recovered to prewar levels, but markets remain skeptical about sustaining this recovery without a lasting agreement to end the conflict. The Strait of Hormuz has seen attacks on at least three tankers this week, and Iran and its Houthi allies have targeted refineries across the region.