Oil Rises as US and Iran Trade Strikes, Israel Moves Further into Lebanon

Lights illuminate an oil refinery in Carson, Calif., May 29, 2024. (AP)
Lights illuminate an oil refinery in Carson, Calif., May 29, 2024. (AP)
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Oil Rises as US and Iran Trade Strikes, Israel Moves Further into Lebanon

Lights illuminate an oil refinery in Carson, Calif., May 29, 2024. (AP)
Lights illuminate an oil refinery in Carson, Calif., May 29, 2024. (AP)

Oil prices rose more than 2% on Monday after Iran and the US traded strikes and Israel ordered troops to move further into Lebanon in the battle with the Tehran-backed Hezbollah group.

US crude futures rose $2.29 or 2.62% to $89.65 a barrel as of 0436 GMT. Brent futures rose $2.05 or 2.25% to $93.17 a barrel.

The stepped-up fighting, coming just after the US hosted Israel-Lebanon peace talks in Washington on Friday, dimmed expectations that the US and Iran could soon announce an extension to their ceasefire agreement, which had driven Brent and WTI to settle ‌down 1.8% and ‌1.7%, respectively, on Friday.

The US said on Sunday it conducted "self-defense ‌strikes" on ⁠Iranian radar and ⁠drone control sites in Iran's Goruk and Qeshm Island over the weekend in what it said was a response to "aggressive" actions from Tehran.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Monday its aerospace force targeted an air base used in what it called a US attack on a telecoms tower on Sirik Island.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would soon decide on a proposed deal to extend a ceasefire with Iran announced in early April, giving ⁠negotiators more time to seek a permanent end to the conflict and ‌find a solution to the underlying dispute over Iran's ‌nuclear program.

Israel would be key to any such deal, and Iran has also said repeatedly that Hezbollah ‌must be included. The US has proposed a "gradual de-escalation" plan, under which Hezbollah would first ‌stop attacks on Israel in exchange for Israel refraining from escalation in Beirut, a US official said on Sunday.

Concerns are rising about mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil and gas shipping lane, IG analyst Tony Sycamore said in a note. That could slow the process of reopening the strait ‌and mean that relief comes more slowly for the oil market even after it is reopened.

"Even if an agreement is reached, it won't ⁠deliver a flood of ⁠supply," Sycamore said.

An Axios reporter said on X on Friday that Iran had dropped more mines in the strait earlier in the week, shortly after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that attempts to lay more mines would be a violation of the ceasefire.

The Strait of Hormuz is a conduit for about a fifth of global oil and gas flows and Iran has effectively closed it since the conflict began with US and Israeli strikes in February.

Concerns over supply outweighed lackluster economic data from China over the weekend, which showed stalling factory activity. This added to concerns the world's second-largest economy is losing momentum, weighed down by a contraction in exports and cost pressures.

Goldman Sachs said late on Sunday that weak oil demand in China and Europe poses a major downside risk to its fourth-quarter Brent crude forecast of $90 a barrel and WTI forecast of $83, although Middle East supply disruptions could still push prices higher.



Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress Kicks off in Jeddah in October

The Jeddah Superdome will host the 2026 edition of the congress. (Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress)
The Jeddah Superdome will host the 2026 edition of the congress. (Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress)
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Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress Kicks off in Jeddah in October

The Jeddah Superdome will host the 2026 edition of the congress. (Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress)
The Jeddah Superdome will host the 2026 edition of the congress. (Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress)

The Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress will kick off in Jeddah on October 21 and 22, with the participation of more than 15,000 specialists from over 90 countries, coinciding with the Kingdom's efforts to boost its position as a global logistics hub.

The Jeddah Superdome will host the 2026 edition of the congress, which brings together government officials, representatives from port authorities, shipping companies, logistics operators, investors, and major buyers in the sector.

The event comes at a time when the Kingdom is focusing on developing its maritime transport infrastructure and logistics services under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy. This strategy aims to increase port capacity to 40 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually by 2030.

The congress will explore opportunities to develop port capacity, logistics zones, shipping corridors, maritime transport services, and digital infrastructure, alongside shifts in the energy sector, infrastructure and technology investments, and supply chain resilience.

The congress program will focus on five key themes, including trade corridors and connectivity; ports, logistics, and industrial competitiveness; the energy transition; infrastructure investment and economic development; and technology and resilience.

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and the Transport General Authority (TGA) are participating as main partners in the 2026 edition, while the event is being organized in cooperation with Bahri and Seatrade Maritime Saudi, a subsidiary of Informa.


Saudi Ministry of Industry Participates in 63rd Damascus International Fair

26 August 2026, Syria, Damascus: People walk at the Damascus Fair Grounds during the opening ceremony of the 63rd Damascus International Fair. (dpa)
26 August 2026, Syria, Damascus: People walk at the Damascus Fair Grounds during the opening ceremony of the 63rd Damascus International Fair. (dpa)
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Saudi Ministry of Industry Participates in 63rd Damascus International Fair

26 August 2026, Syria, Damascus: People walk at the Damascus Fair Grounds during the opening ceremony of the 63rd Damascus International Fair. (dpa)
26 August 2026, Syria, Damascus: People walk at the Damascus Fair Grounds during the opening ceremony of the 63rd Damascus International Fair. (dpa)

The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources is participating in the 63rd Damascus International Fair, taking place from August 26 to September 4.

The participation aims to strengthen economic and industrial integration between the two countries, showcase the growth and development of Saudi industries, and expand access for Saudi goods and services to regional markets.

Saudi non-oil exports to Syria reached SAR1.23 billion in 2025, representing growth of more than 123% compared to 2024.

The fair serves as a key platform for fostering international investment partnerships across a wide range of economic sectors, particularly energy, industry, and technology.

The 63rd edition brings together around 1,000 entities from 60 countries, as well as Syrian ministries, institutions, and artisans, highlighting the fair’s significant economic and developmental impact.


Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Aim to Raise Agricultural and Food Exports to Reach $3 Billion

The Saudi and Pakistani delegations are seen in Islamabad. (SPA)
The Saudi and Pakistani delegations are seen in Islamabad. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Aim to Raise Agricultural and Food Exports to Reach $3 Billion

The Saudi and Pakistani delegations are seen in Islamabad. (SPA)
The Saudi and Pakistani delegations are seen in Islamabad. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have agreed to bolster cooperation in the fields of food security and agriculture, as both sides look to increase the value of Pakistani agricultural and food exports to the Kingdom to $3 billion.

The announcement was detailed in a joint statement issued at the conclusion of a high-level Saudi delegation's official visit to Pakistan from August 26 to 28. Led by Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, the delegation included senior officials from the ministry, the General Food Security Authority, and other relevant government entities.

The discussions focused on the rice, red meat, and fruit sectors, as well as fruit concentrates, green fodder, and water-efficient agricultural technologies.

Pakistani rice supplies to the Saudi market reached approximately 169,000 tons in 2025, with an estimated value of $163 million, while annual meat supplies totaled around 30,000 tons, valued at $167 million. Saudi Arabia has expressed its desire to double the volume of meat supplies in the future.

The two sides agreed to increase the share of Pakistani fruit exports and fruit concentrates in the Saudi market, empower the private sector, and facilitate communication between business leaders, alongside expanding mutual recognition of quality certificates.

The two sides also discussed opportunities to expand the green fodder trade and build long-term supply partnerships, while Saudi Arabia encouraged Pakistan to join the International Dates Council, an invitation welcomed by Islamabad.

During the visit, Saudi Arabia reviewed investment proposals from Pakistani companies across the livestock, agricultural manufacturing, and rice value chain sectors, with both sides agreeing to coordinate on exploring and exploiting these opportunities.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership. Pakistan welcomed the invitation to attend the 43rd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition, scheduled to be held in Riyadh in October, and both parties agreed to maintain ongoing coordination to follow up on the implementation of the reached understandings.