New reports said Iran is in the “advanced stages” of planning attacks against Americans, and a memo from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, reported by The New York Times, said Iran has “substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel” in the region, with the threats also applying to “certain other countries.” The warnings come as the U.S. ordered non-emergency government employees to leave Saudi Arabia, amid worsening attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis and a broader U.S.-Iran war nearing its eighth month. The Saudi-led coalition said it destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis toward Taif and Yanbu on Saturday. The Trump administration has vowed to delay military strikes on Iran until after the Nov. 3 midterm elections, where inflation and affordability are voters’ top concerns. Oil prices soared, with Brent crude futures topping $116 a barrel, a six-month high, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate rising 3.8% to settle above $103 a barrel.
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geopoliticsoil pricesIranmidterm electionsSaudi Arabia
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Related tickers and likely impact
XAU/USD
▲ Likely positiveRelevance: low
| Market | Gold |
|---|---|
| Close on 10/23/2026 | 3,995.78 |
| Change that session | -0.72% |
PAXG/USDT
▲ Likely positivePAX Gold
Relevance: low
| Market | Crypto |
|---|---|
| Exchange | Binance |
| Sector | Real-world assets |
| Market cap | $1.8B |
| Close on 10/23/2026 | 4,003.77 |
| Change that session | -0.80% |
XAUT/USDT
▲ Likely positiveTether Gold
Relevance: low
| Market | Crypto |
|---|---|
| Exchange | Binance |
| Sector | Real-world assets |
| Market cap | $3.4B |
| Close on 10/23/2026 | 3,994.18 |
| Change that session | -0.89% |
Impact is scored by AI from the headline and may be wrong. It is not investment advice.
Related news
- Brent crude climbs near USD 117 a barrel, highest in 6 months
Brent crude rose 3.1% to close at USD 116.72 a barrel on October 23, its highest close since April 29, while WTI gained 3.8% to USD 103.27. Investors increasingly believe the US could resume strikes on Iran in the coming weeks, after President Donald Trump said the US was not negotiating with Iran and that something would happen “fairly soon”. US officials told The New York Times that the US and Israel had planned new strikes after the midterm elections. For the week, Brent gained 6.2%, its third straight weekly rise, while WTI added 2%. Iran-backed Houthi forces continued attacks on Saudi Arabia, and the US State Department ordered non-essential staff to leave the country.
- Brent crude hits $115 a barrel
On the evening of October 23, Brent rose more than 1.8% to above $115 a barrel, its highest since early May, while WTI gained 1.7% to above $101. Prices were lifted after Iran-backed Houthi forces attacked Saudi energy infrastructure, airports and military facilities, prompting Saudi Aramco to evacuate its Dhahran headquarters. UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said the market still fears escalation, while XS analyst Linh Tran said the extent of actual supply disruption and the time needed to restore operations are key factors to watch. Deutsche Bank said the oil market has shifted from a surplus of 1.7 million barrels per day last year to a deficit of 1.8 million this year, and its 2027 scenarios range from Brent falling to $74 under a ceasefire to about $130 if fighting continues.
- U.S. pulls diplomats from Saudi Arabia as it reportedly readies Iran strikes after midterms
The U.S. has ordered non-emergency government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks on the kingdom escalate, and plans to withdraw family members from other regional missions. According to The New York Times, U.S. and Israeli militaries have drawn up plans for renewed strikes on Iran after next month's midterm elections, likely targeting energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities and missile and drone arsenals, though President Donald Trump has yet to approve them. In Saudi Arabia, a strike on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam killed at least 1 person and injured 8, while a drone attack on Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oil field killed 2. Kpler says Middle East oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz have recovered to near pre-war levels, and Brent crude has topped $110 a barrel.
- Iran says it has a 'new operational plan' if the U.S. resumes attacks, as shipping vessels report strikes
Senior Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei warned that Tehran has prepared a new response plan, “far more devastating” than the 12-day and 40-day wars, for any renewed U.S.-Israeli attack. President Trump told Newsmax he does not intend to use nuclear weapons against Iran or deploy ground troops. Several commercial vessels around the Arabian Peninsula were attacked, including a tug hit by two unknown projectiles near the UAE on Sunday and a tanker struck by an RPG on Friday. Oil prices surged, with Brent settling at $109.86 per barrel (up 3.7%) and WTI rising 3.5% to $101.41. Saudi Arabia intercepted several missiles, including one aimed at the Yanbu oil export terminal, and Aramco's administrative building in Dhahran was hit earlier this week.
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- Oil rises amid growing Mideast tensions between Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi Arabia
Oil prices rose on supply-disruption fears as fighting between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthis escalated after a deadly Houthi attack on Riyadh's main airport. Brent crude for December delivery gained 1.24% to $107.02 a barrel, while WTI for November rose 1.18% to $95.25. According to Al Jazeera, a Saudi-led coalition struck Houthi energy terminals and fuel reserves in Yemen, though a spokesperson said precautions were taken to avoid civilian collateral damage. US–Iran tensions also simmered, with CENTCOM rejecting claims by Iran's IRGC Navy commander that the Strait of Hormuz was under Iranian control and that approaching US warships would be sunk. Hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones, who said on CNBC that he is long oil, believes prices could rally another $20-$25.
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