Posted on 03/06/2026 2:33:13 PM PST by NoLibZone

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Hopefully it will begin a downward trend later on in the month or shortly afterwards. Once the regime is basically broken, the Strait of Hormuz should be reopened.
Opening the Strait will be a logistic nightmare....
has anyone mentioned Iran has 23 submarines?
Not anymore!
OPEC said they were going to increase output a few days ago...President Trump needs to put the pressure on them...
Article from February
Iran Deploys 20+ Ghadir Mini Submarines to Threaten U.S. Carrier Strike Groups in Persian Gulf.
18 Feb, 2026 - 10:50
Naval News Navy 2026
Iran’s Ghadir-class midget submarines, built for shallow-water ambush in the Persian Gulf, are emerging as a key variable as U.S. carrier strike groups operate near Iran. While they cannot match U.S. naval power directly, their design and doctrine are tailored to impose operational friction, increase anti-submarine warfare demands, and raise risk for high-value U.S. vessels in constrained waters.
High gas prices vs missile in my back yard...hmmmmm
Venezuelan oil is coming onto the market as well as a mitigating factor. By taking yuan-priced oil for China out of the equation Trump also took the steam out of BRICS. Remember them?
How long can they stay submerged?
The problem is delivery, not production.
The largest worry is the possibility of 5,000 mines, which would bring things to a halt until they are removed.
If things continue to get worse, this could look like the last “problem” (2008) when oil hit $145. It didn’t stay there of course. Thousands of people traded in their nice cars and trucks and bought econoboxes. Then the oil price went back down and they lost thousands of dollars because they bought econoboxes at elevated prices and traded in guzzlers at low prices. I watched in amazement.
Below is what I've recorded as gas prices in my area each month (part of my solar/EV project to see if it's saving me more than it costs me). I record it on the 20th-24th of each month (whenever I get my power bill), with the exception being that the March 2026 cell is from today.
West of Minneapolis the low price station I am gas war were $3.19 the rest of them were around $3.30.
I asked Grok and here’s what it said:
No, the Strait of Hormuz is not formally or physically closed by a blockade (like mines or barriers), but it is effectively closed to normal commercial traffic as of March 6, 2026.
Due to the ongoing conflict involving U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, followed by Iranian retaliatory actions (including drone/missile attacks on ships and threats to target vessels), maritime traffic has ground to a near standstill:
Shipping through the strait has dropped dramatically—reports indicate drops of 80% or more, with some days seeing almost no transits (e.g., typically ~120 ships/day vs. near zero recently).
Major shipping companies (like Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd) have suspended passages, rerouting vessels (e.g., around Africa), due to safety risks, canceled war-risk insurance coverage, and Iranian warnings/threats to attack ships attempting to pass.
Iran has declared control over the strait, threatened to “set fire” to or attack vessels (especially those linked to the U.S., Israel, or allies), and some IRGC statements suggest it is “closed” or under full military control in wartime conditions.
Iranian officials (e.g., Deputy Foreign Minister) have stated they have not closed it and have no current intention to do so formally, but would announce if they did—yet the practical effect from threats, attacks (several tankers hit), and fear has halted most traffic, particularly oil/gas exports.
This has caused oil prices to surge, disrupted global energy markets (20% of world oil normally flows through it), and raised fears of broader economic impacts.
In short: It’s not “closed” in the sense of a declared, enforced physical shutdown by Iran (per their own clarifications), but de facto closed because commercial ships aren’t risking passage amid the war risks. U.S. forces are reportedly preparing to protect/escort shipping to reopen it, but as of now, the situation remains highly disrupted.
This stems from the escalated Iran conflict in early March 2026—check live shipping trackers (e.g., MarineTraffic) or major news for real-time updates, as things could change quickly.
-SB
Oilprice.com has it over 93.00 now. Domestic production might tick up a little, I worked in the Texas oilfields for 40+ years. It’s always been a roller coaster of ups and downs. I own some mineral interests, so I’m not too unhappy when it goes up a bit...;)
Our Gasoline in Michigan went from $2.59 a couple weeks ago to $3.69 today.
Gas stations are gouging. 20 cent jump in a week? The same gas in their inventories are suddenly more expensive… overnight lol
I hear you, nothing beats the fun (and terror) of Texas oil/gas. I was staking well locations in Wise County for George Mitchell at 16.
Mineral rights payments on gas have been healthy for a while.
Perfect time for China to invade Taiwan.
Trump said prices would go up. People are acting like this isn’t part of the plan.
It is 'open' now, insurance is the problem.
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