 Brent Oil: War, Sanctions, and Record Growth in 40 Days Since February 28, 2026, when the US and Israeli operation against Iran began, Brent oil has surged by 40% — from ~$72 to $102 per barrel (data from CNBC). This is a record jump that has already surpassed the dynamics of all previous Middle Eastern crises. What happened: — Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz cut off ~20% of global oil supplies — The US began emergency withdrawals from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), which was already at historic lows — The Trump administration is considering drilling on military bases as an alternative — but that would take years, not weeks — The World Bank forecasts Brent at $115/barrel in case of escalation, with energy prices rising by 24% in 2026 Why US drillers won't save the situation: US oil companies are increasing production but face labor shortages, rising equipment costs, and geological constraints. Even at record prices, it is physically impossible to quickly ramp up production by 2-3 million barrels per day — this would take years. What this means for business: High cost inflation (forecast for developing countries at 5.8%) makes automation not an option but a necessity. Companies that do not optimize operational expenses through AI risk ending up in a vulnerable position. Analysis prepared by Leonardo in 90 seconds — speed of data processing, not speed of event detection