The escalating US-Iran kinetic war, involving Yemeni proxies, is pushing Brent crude towards $100 per barrel. Tit-for-tat strikes, including Houthi attacks and US retaliation, affirm Iran's enduring firepower and control over regional militias. This conflict, possibly fueled by US midterm elections and Iran’s aim to influence politics via high oil prices, severely burdens energy importers like India. Bypassing the Strait of Hormuz requires time. China's finite oil-reserve releases offer only temporary relief, thus the outlook for global energy markets is grim.