U.S. launches new air strikes on Iran near Strait of Hormuz as Brent jumps almost 4%

U.S. air strikes on Iranian targets and Tehran's threat to block Gulf oil exports have sharply raised geopolitical risk around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical crude transit chokepoint. Reports of tankers being hit and impending U.S. sanctions reinforce supply-disruption concerns, pushing Brent higher intraday. The news is most impactful for energy markets and risk assets broadly, as traders reprice near-term supply security and volatility.