The Brent/WTI spread has historically ranged between $4/bbl and $8/bbl, but it can expand or contract based on factors related to U.S. and international supply and demand conditions. For example, the Brent/WTI spread hit nearly $14/bbl in April 2011 when protests sparked market fears of significant oil supply disruptions in the Middle East.

The threat of a wider Israel-Iran war has yet to disrupt the physical flow of oil from Iran or other Gulf states in any major way. Crude prices haven't seemed to notice. Benchmark U.S. futures continued their steep climb Monday,

Oil opened the week lower as traders weighed Israel’s potential retaliation against Iran for a missile attack last week, with President Joe Biden discouraging a strike on Tehran’s crude fields.