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IRNA says a barrel costs $105.26, An-Nahar says about $102.15, Asharq Al-Awsat says only "above $100"

Six reports filed within seven hours on Thursday. Four carry a price for a barrel of crude. No two agree, and not one says at what hour its price was taken.

Asian Shares Fall and Oil Prices Trade above $100 a Barrel
Asian Shares Fall and Oil Prices Trade above $100 a Barrel as published by Asharq Al-Awsat · seen at Asharq Al-Awsat
Levant & Iran Iran Saudi Arabia United States

The gap. IRNA reported Brent up 4 per cent on Thursday to $105.26 a barrel. An-Nahar, filed 29 minutes earlier, put Brent at about $102.15 and US crude near $97.50. LBCI said US crude futures had reached $100, the first time since 21 May. Asharq Al-Awsat said only that oil was trading above $100.

Outlet Price given Which crude Hedged Hour of the quote
IRNA $105.26 Brent no not given
An-Nahar about $102.15 Brent yes not given
An-Nahar about $97.50 US crude yes not given
LBCI $100 US crude futures no not given
Asharq Al-Awsat above $100 not named — not given

Read with the benchmark, most of the gap closes. Two reports price Brent, two price the US grade, one prices futures rather than a cargo, and one names no crude at all. A reader comparing the four numbers is comparing different things.

What the rise is blamed on. An-Nahar cites disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the widening American-Iranian confrontation, and Chinese refineries buying to cover lost supply. IRNA cites continuing tension in West Asia. LBCI cites escalating conflict in the Middle East. Al-Monitor's headline says war. None of them names which party did what.

Not settled. Whether any two of these prices describe the same moment — none is timed. Whether Brent stood at $105.26 or about $102.15: the two reports are 29 minutes apart and we cannot reconcile them. Saudi output at 6.238 million barrels a day rests on one report of the kingdom's own filing to OPEC, and we hold no independent estimate against it.

What this is about. A war between the United States and Iran is throttling the sea lane most Gulf oil leaves by, and crude has gone back above $100 a barrel.

How it got here. The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow channel between Iran and Oman that joins the Gulf to the open sea. Saudi, Kuwaiti, Emirati, Qatari, Iraqi and Iranian cargoes almost all sail out through it, and there is no comparable way around. Iran holds its northern shore.

The confrontation behind it runs back to the war in Gaza that followed the attacks of 7 October 2023. Israel and Iran escalated from there, and the United States — Israel's principal military backer — was drawn in. By this month the fighting was American-Iranian and it was at sea. On 4 September Saudi Arabia said Iran had struck the tanker Sidr in the strait, while AFP reported the attacks on shipping as unclaimed. On 9 September Al-Monitor reported Iran had hit "more than a dozen" ships, and An-Nahar named five Iranian tankers destroyed by US Central Command. Shargh, citing Reuters, reports seven ships crossed on Wednesday, against twelve on Tuesday and a ten-day average of fourteen.

Who is in it. Iran and the United States are fighting. The Gulf producers export through one exit: Al-Monitor reports Saudi Arabia's filing to OPEC, the producers' group, showed crude output down by 1.9 million to 6.238 million barrels a day in August. Buyers are bidding — An-Nahar reports Chinese refineries purchasing to cover lost supply. Central banks are watching the bill: An-Nahar reports the European Central Bank raised its deposit rate by a quarter point to 2.5 per cent after euro-area inflation passed 3 per cent on energy costs.

What is at stake. Energy prices feed inflation, and inflation sets borrowing costs everywhere. Asharq Al-Awsat reports President Trump saying on Wednesday that prices likely won't fall until after the US midterm elections.

Where it stands. Asharq Al-Awsat reports Brent rose 3.4 per cent on Wednesday, above $100 for the first time since July. Traffic through the strait is thin. No report we hold describes a pause in the attacks.

The story so far

Earlier stories The AI Times filed on this thread.

What is being argued about

  • Four reports give four prices for a barrel on the same day, and none states the hour of its quote
  • Two price Brent, two price the US grade, one names no benchmark — which explains most of the spread
  • The cause is attached without an actor: tension, confrontation, conflict, war
  • The two checkable figures we hold are ship transits through the Strait of Hormuz and Saudi production
Four reports, four prices for a barrel — ThursdayChart
Each bar is the price that report printed. Two are Brent, two are the US grade. Asharq Al-Awsat gave no figure and does not appear.
Sources IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency)
State / loyalist estimate · not a score
IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) 🇮🇷IR · state agency · state-controlled بهای هر بشکه نفت از ۱۰۵ دلار گذشت Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) → What we have measured A contested word in the headline "illegal" is a Chinese spokesperson's characterisation, carried unmarked in the headline ×1A contested word taken as the report's own "illegal" appears in the headline without quotation marks or attribution to the speaker ×1Acted upon, never acting police are named as acting; whoever hoarded a billion toman of staples is not named at all ×1Actor label The Houthi-run authority is called Yemen's transport ministry. ×1 from 15038 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → An-Nahar
Centre estimate · not a score
An-Nahar 🇱🇧LB · newspaper · independent الأسواق العالمية اليوم: النفط فوق 102 دولار والفائدة تضغط على الأسهم Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at An-Nahar → What we have measured Accused named the accused is named and his age is given ×1Accused named names the accused and gives his age ×1A contested finding relayed with the case still the prime minister's claim carried, with the court proceedings noted in the same sentence ×1Active voice and a toll in the background paragraph, the July strikes get named actors and counted dead — the only counted dead in this story ×1 from 10777 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International)
Centre estimate · not a score
LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International) 🇱🇧LB · TV/radio · independent العقود الآجلة للخام الأميركي تصل إلى 100 دولار للبرميل لأول مرة منذ 21 أيار وسط تصاعد حدة الصراع في الشرق الأوسط Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International) → What we have measured Active voice, actor named the Israeli army carried out the detonation ×1Actor framing Tehran calls the meeting. Iraq is the only other state named. ×1Actor left unnamed the strike in Iraqi waters has no one named as firing it — the source is "unknown" ×1Actor named names Israel as the one striking ×1 from 8159 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
What each report was actually pricingSide by side
OutletWhat it saidWhich crudeHedged?Hour of the quote
IRNABrent rose 4 per cent to $105.26 a barrelBrentNo — stated flat, to the centNot given
An-NaharBrent traded at about $102.15; US crude near $97.50Brent and US crudeYes — both called approximateNot given
LBCIUS crude futures reach $100 for the first time since 21 MayUS crude, futuresNo — a threshold, with the date last crossedNot given
Asharq Al-AwsatOil prices trade above $100 a barrelNot namedNo figure to hedgeNot given
Read from the published text, with the quote attached. Not a judgement of any outlet.
Sources IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency)
State / loyalist estimate · not a score
IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) 🇮🇷IR · state agency · state-controlled بهای هر بشکه نفت از ۱۰۵ دلار گذشت Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) → What we have measured A contested word in the headline "illegal" is a Chinese spokesperson's characterisation, carried unmarked in the headline ×1A contested word taken as the report's own "illegal" appears in the headline without quotation marks or attribution to the speaker ×1Acted upon, never acting police are named as acting; whoever hoarded a billion toman of staples is not named at all ×1Actor label The Houthi-run authority is called Yemen's transport ministry. ×1 from 15038 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → An-Nahar
Centre estimate · not a score
An-Nahar 🇱🇧LB · newspaper · independent الأسواق العالمية اليوم: النفط فوق 102 دولار والفائدة تضغط على الأسهم Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at An-Nahar → What we have measured Accused named the accused is named and his age is given ×1Accused named names the accused and gives his age ×1A contested finding relayed with the case still the prime minister's claim carried, with the court proceedings noted in the same sentence ×1Active voice and a toll in the background paragraph, the July strikes get named actors and counted dead — the only counted dead in this story ×1 from 10777 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International)
Centre estimate · not a score
LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International) 🇱🇧LB · TV/radio · independent العقود الآجلة للخام الأميركي تصل إلى 100 دولار للبرميل لأول مرة منذ 21 أيار وسط تصاعد حدة الصراع في الشرق الأوسط Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International) → What we have measured Active voice, actor named the Israeli army carried out the detonation ×1Actor framing Tehran calls the meeting. Iraq is the only other state named. ×1Actor left unnamed the strike in Iraqi waters has no one named as firing it — the source is "unknown" ×1Actor named names Israel as the one striking ×1 from 8159 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → A Asharq Al-Awsat
Centre-right estimate · not a score
Asharq Al-Awsat 🇸🇦SA · digital · Asian Shares Fall and Oil Prices Trade above $100 a Barrel Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Asharq Al-Awsat → What we have measured Active voice, both actors named the killing of Iran's supreme leader is given an actor and a date, unhedged ×1Active voice for the actor soldiers and settlers are both named as acting ×1Anyone hurt is counted, not named three dead given as a figure and a job title ×1Are the hurt named or counted The dead man and the wounded are a count inside an official's quote; nobody is named, and no ages, roles or nationalities are given. ×1 from 3032 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Seven hours of Thursday, in the order the reports were filedTimeline
  1. 2026-09-1007:04 published time Asharq Al-Awsat Asian shares fall; oil trades above $100 a barrel, benchmark not named above $100no figure, no source
  2. 2026-09-1010:39 published time Shargh Ship transits through the Strait of Hormuz fall on Wednesday, against Tuesday 7, from 12tracking data called preliminary
  3. 2026-09-1012:38 published time LBCI US crude futures reach $100 a barrel, first time since 21 May $100futures, not a cargo
  4. 2026-09-1012:38 published time Al-Monitor Saudi crude output fell in August, on the kingdom's filing to OPEC 6.238m barrels a day, down 1.9mno independent estimate held
  5. 2026-09-1013:09 published time An-Nahar Brent and US crude both priced, both hedged as approximate about $102.15 / about $97.50cites Hormuz and Chinese refinery buying
  6. 2026-09-1013:37 published time IRNA Brent up four per cent, the highest price we hold $105.2629 minutes after An-Nahar's $102.15
Times are when each report was published, not when its price was taken. No report gives the hour of its own quote.
Sources A Asharq Al-Awsat
Centre-right estimate · not a score
Asharq Al-Awsat 🇸🇦SA · digital · Asian Shares Fall and Oil Prices Trade above $100 a Barrel Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Asharq Al-Awsat → What we have measured Active voice, both actors named the killing of Iran's supreme leader is given an actor and a date, unhedged ×1Active voice for the actor soldiers and settlers are both named as acting ×1Anyone hurt is counted, not named three dead given as a figure and a job title ×1Are the hurt named or counted The dead man and the wounded are a count inside an official's quote; nobody is named, and no ages, roles or nationalities are given. ×1 from 3032 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → Shargh
Centre-left estimate · not a score
Shargh 🇮🇷IR · newspaper · independent روز گذشته فقط ۷ کشتی‌ از تنگه هرمز عبور کردند Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Shargh → What we have measured A count with its base both days given, and the data called preliminary ×1Actor named as a state the attack is Yemen's, not the Houthis' ×1A different actor does the asking Pakistan's army chief, not Beijing, is the one asking Tehran to use its influence, on the word of unnamed Pakistani government sources. ×1'aggression' in the narration The US campaign is called aggression in the report's own narration, which it credits to Al-Ahram's account of the call. ×1 from 10199 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International)
Centre estimate · not a score
LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International) 🇱🇧LB · TV/radio · independent العقود الآجلة للخام الأميركي تصل إلى 100 دولار للبرميل لأول مرة منذ 21 أيار وسط تصاعد حدة الصراع في الشرق الأوسط Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International) → What we have measured Active voice, actor named the Israeli army carried out the detonation ×1Actor framing Tehran calls the meeting. Iraq is the only other state named. ×1Actor left unnamed the strike in Iraqi waters has no one named as firing it — the source is "unknown" ×1Actor named names Israel as the one striking ×1 from 8159 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → Al-Monitor
Centre estimate · not a score
Al-Monitor 🇺🇸US/ME · digital · independent Saudi Arabia’s oil production slumps to lowest in 36 years as war bites Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Al-Monitor → What we have measured Actor from anonymous officials Puts the IRGC at the trigger in a sentence sourc ×1Actor named Names the Director-General as the one who requested the dismissal ×1Actor named names Trump as the one who began the war, with Israel ×1Actor named names Israel as the actor in its military actions against the Palestinians ×1 from 1566 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → An-Nahar
Centre estimate · not a score
An-Nahar 🇱🇧LB · newspaper · independent الأسواق العالمية اليوم: النفط فوق 102 دولار والفائدة تضغط على الأسهم Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at An-Nahar → What we have measured Accused named the accused is named and his age is given ×1Accused named names the accused and gives his age ×1A contested finding relayed with the case still the prime minister's claim carried, with the court proceedings noted in the same sentence ×1Active voice and a toll in the background paragraph, the July strikes get named actors and counted dead — the only counted dead in this story ×1 from 10777 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency)
State / loyalist estimate · not a score
IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) 🇮🇷IR · state agency · state-controlled بهای هر بشکه نفت از ۱۰۵ دلار گذشت Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) → What we have measured A contested word in the headline "illegal" is a Chinese spokesperson's characterisation, carried unmarked in the headline ×1A contested word taken as the report's own "illegal" appears in the headline without quotation marks or attribution to the speaker ×1Acted upon, never acting police are named as acting; whoever hoarded a billion toman of staples is not named at all ×1Actor label The Houthi-run authority is called Yemen's transport ministry. ×1 from 15038 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The bias in this coverageBias

Four prices, and the benchmark is the reason

Within seven hours the reports give $105.26, $102.15, $100 and "above $100" — but two are Brent, one is US crude futures and one names no benchmark at all. Not one of the four says at what time its price was taken. Read without the benchmark, the four look like disagreement; read with it, most of the gap disappears.

4 reports carrying a price for a barrel 3 reports naming which crude they are pricing 0 reports giving the time of the price

What the rise is blamed on, and where

The same rise is attributed to tensions in West Asia, to escalating conflict in the Middle East, and to shipping disruption through Hormuz and the American-Iranian confrontation; one report gives no cause. Two reports supply a base a reader can check — ships through Hormuz against the previous day, and Saudi output against a filing to OPEC. The rest give a level with nothing to measure it against.

2 different regions named for the same conflict 4 reports giving a cause for the rise 3 reports giving a base for their number
Scored without the mastheads. Where the two passes differ, both are kept.
Sources IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency)
State / loyalist estimate · not a score
IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) 🇮🇷IR · state agency · state-controlled بهای هر بشکه نفت از ۱۰۵ دلار گذشت Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) → What we have measured A contested word in the headline "illegal" is a Chinese spokesperson's characterisation, carried unmarked in the headline ×1A contested word taken as the report's own "illegal" appears in the headline without quotation marks or attribution to the speaker ×1Acted upon, never acting police are named as acting; whoever hoarded a billion toman of staples is not named at all ×1Actor label The Houthi-run authority is called Yemen's transport ministry. ×1 from 15038 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → An-Nahar
Centre estimate · not a score
An-Nahar 🇱🇧LB · newspaper · independent الأسواق العالمية اليوم: النفط فوق 102 دولار والفائدة تضغط على الأسهم Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at An-Nahar → What we have measured Accused named the accused is named and his age is given ×1Accused named names the accused and gives his age ×1A contested finding relayed with the case still the prime minister's claim carried, with the court proceedings noted in the same sentence ×1Active voice and a toll in the background paragraph, the July strikes get named actors and counted dead — the only counted dead in this story ×1 from 10777 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International)
Centre estimate · not a score
LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International) 🇱🇧LB · TV/radio · independent العقود الآجلة للخام الأميركي تصل إلى 100 دولار للبرميل لأول مرة منذ 21 أيار وسط تصاعد حدة الصراع في الشرق الأوسط Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International) → What we have measured Active voice, actor named the Israeli army carried out the detonation ×1Actor framing Tehran calls the meeting. Iraq is the only other state named. ×1Actor left unnamed the strike in Iraqi waters has no one named as firing it — the source is "unknown" ×1Actor named names Israel as the one striking ×1 from 8159 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → A Asharq Al-Awsat
Centre-right estimate · not a score
Asharq Al-Awsat 🇸🇦SA · digital · Asian Shares Fall and Oil Prices Trade above $100 a Barrel Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Asharq Al-Awsat → What we have measured Active voice, both actors named the killing of Iran's supreme leader is given an actor and a date, unhedged ×1Active voice for the actor soldiers and settlers are both named as acting ×1Anyone hurt is counted, not named three dead given as a figure and a job title ×1Are the hurt named or counted The dead man and the wounded are a count inside an official's quote; nobody is named, and no ages, roles or nationalities are given. ×1 from 3032 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → Shargh
Centre-left estimate · not a score
Shargh 🇮🇷IR · newspaper · independent روز گذشته فقط ۷ کشتی‌ از تنگه هرمز عبور کردند Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Shargh → What we have measured A count with its base both days given, and the data called preliminary ×1Actor named as a state the attack is Yemen's, not the Houthis' ×1A different actor does the asking Pakistan's army chief, not Beijing, is the one asking Tehran to use its influence, on the word of unnamed Pakistani government sources. ×1'aggression' in the narration The US campaign is called aggression in the report's own narration, which it credits to Al-Ahram's account of the call. ×1 from 10199 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → Al-Monitor
Centre estimate · not a score
Al-Monitor 🇺🇸US/ME · digital · independent Saudi Arabia’s oil production slumps to lowest in 36 years as war bites Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Al-Monitor → What we have measured Actor from anonymous officials Puts the IRGC at the trigger in a sentence sourc ×1Actor named Names the Director-General as the one who requested the dismissal ×1Actor named names Trump as the one who began the war, with Israel ×1Actor named names Israel as the actor in its military actions against the Palestinians ×1 from 1566 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →

Claims and verdicts

disputed Brent crude rose 4 per cent on Thursday to $105.26 a barrel.
IRNA gives $105.26; An-Nahar, filed 29 minutes earlier the same day, puts Brent at about $102.15. Neither report says what time its quote was taken, so we cannot say whether the two describe the same moment.
Checked against 2 sources:
IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency)
State / loyalist estimate · not a score
IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) 🇮🇷IR · state agency · state-controlled بهای هر بشکه نفت از ۱۰۵ دلار گذشت Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) → What we have measured A contested word in the headline "illegal" is a Chinese spokesperson's characterisation, carried unmarked in the headline ×1A contested word taken as the report's own "illegal" appears in the headline without quotation marks or attribution to the speaker ×1Acted upon, never acting police are named as acting; whoever hoarded a billion toman of staples is not named at all ×1Actor label The Houthi-run authority is called Yemen's transport ministry. ×1 from 15038 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → An-Nahar
Centre estimate · not a score
An-Nahar 🇱🇧LB · newspaper · independent الأسواق العالمية اليوم: النفط فوق 102 دولار والفائدة تضغط على الأسهم Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at An-Nahar → What we have measured Accused named the accused is named and his age is given ×1Accused named names the accused and gives his age ×1A contested finding relayed with the case still the prime minister's claim carried, with the court proceedings noted in the same sentence ×1Active voice and a toll in the background paragraph, the July strikes get named actors and counted dead — the only counted dead in this story ×1 from 10777 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
disputed US crude futures reached $100 a barrel for the first time since 21 May.
LBCI reports the $100 mark reached; An-Nahar, filed half an hour later, puts US crude at about $97.50. Asharq Al-Awsat says only that oil traded above $100 without naming a benchmark.
Checked against 3 sources:
LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International)
Centre estimate · not a score
LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International) 🇱🇧LB · TV/radio · independent العقود الآجلة للخام الأميركي تصل إلى 100 دولار للبرميل لأول مرة منذ 21 أيار وسط تصاعد حدة الصراع في الشرق الأوسط Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International) → What we have measured Active voice, actor named the Israeli army carried out the detonation ×1Actor framing Tehran calls the meeting. Iraq is the only other state named. ×1Actor left unnamed the strike in Iraqi waters has no one named as firing it — the source is "unknown" ×1Actor named names Israel as the one striking ×1 from 8159 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → An-Nahar
Centre estimate · not a score
An-Nahar 🇱🇧LB · newspaper · independent الأسواق العالمية اليوم: النفط فوق 102 دولار والفائدة تضغط على الأسهم Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at An-Nahar → What we have measured Accused named the accused is named and his age is given ×1Accused named names the accused and gives his age ×1A contested finding relayed with the case still the prime minister's claim carried, with the court proceedings noted in the same sentence ×1Active voice and a toll in the background paragraph, the July strikes get named actors and counted dead — the only counted dead in this story ×1 from 10777 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → A Asharq Al-Awsat
Centre-right estimate · not a score
Asharq Al-Awsat 🇸🇦SA · digital · Asian Shares Fall and Oil Prices Trade above $100 a Barrel Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Asharq Al-Awsat → What we have measured Active voice, both actors named the killing of Iran's supreme leader is given an actor and a date, unhedged ×1Active voice for the actor soldiers and settlers are both named as acting ×1Anyone hurt is counted, not named three dead given as a figure and a job title ×1Are the hurt named or counted The dead man and the wounded are a count inside an official's quote; nobody is named, and no ages, roles or nationalities are given. ×1 from 3032 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
unverified Saudi crude output fell by 1.9 million to 6.238 million barrels a day in August, the lowest in 36 years.
Only Al-Monitor carries the figure, citing what the kingdom itself reported to OPEC. No other report we hold gives Saudi production, and none carries an independent estimate against it.
Checked against 1 source:
Al-Monitor
Centre estimate · not a score
Al-Monitor 🇺🇸US/ME · digital · independent Saudi Arabia’s oil production slumps to lowest in 36 years as war bites Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Al-Monitor → What we have measured Actor from anonymous officials Puts the IRGC at the trigger in a sentence sourc ×1Actor named Names the Director-General as the one who requested the dismissal ×1Actor named names Trump as the one who began the war, with Israel ×1Actor named names Israel as the actor in its military actions against the Palestinians ×1 from 1566 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →

Who wrote it

J Jack Dutton Al-Monitor
What the bias passes found in their reporting
Cause asserted the headline states war as the cause; the body attributes only the volume, to the producer's own filing×1
Stated or attributed the output figure attributed to the producer's own filing; the cause stated flat in the headline×1
Claims we checked that rest on their reporting
1 unverified
From 33 reports we hold under this byline, at Al-Monitor. Two independent readings, each made without the masthead, a quote attached to every tag. A record, never a rating. Their full record →
The bylines on the reports this story is built from. Hover one for what our passes have measured on their reporting. · 5 reports we hold carry no byline — we do not invent one.

Coverage, outlet by outlet

IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency)
State / loyalist estimate · not a score
IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) 🇮🇷IR · state agency · state-controlled بهای هر بشکه نفت از ۱۰۵ دلار گذشت Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) → What we have measured A contested word in the headline "illegal" is a Chinese spokesperson's characterisation, carried unmarked in the headline ×1A contested word taken as the report's own "illegal" appears in the headline without quotation marks or attribution to the speaker ×1Acted upon, never acting police are named as acting; whoever hoarded a billion toman of staples is not named at all ×1Actor label The Houthi-run authority is called Yemen's transport ministry. ×1 from 15038 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → — state-controlled
The highest price we hold, and the only one given as a move: Brent up four per cent to $105.26, to the cent, with no hour attached and no source named for the figure.
تهران - ایرنا - همزمان با تداوم تنش ها در غرب آسیا، بهای نفت خام برنت با چهار درصد رشد به بشکه ای ۱۰۵.۲۶ دلار رسید.
Which figure is chosen: Brent, to the cent, with a percentage rise and no time of quotation — “بهای نفت خام برنت با چهار درصد رشد به بشکه ای ۱۰۵.۲۶ دلار رسید”
Figure and its precision: the highest price we hold, given to the cent with a percentage move and no hour of quotation — “همزمان با تداوم تنش ها در غرب آسیا، بهای نفت خام برنت با چهار درصد رشد به بشکه ای ۱۰۵.۲۶ دلار رسید.”
Read it at IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) → https://www.irna.ir/news/86260476/%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%87%D8%B1…
An-Nahar
Centre estimate · not a score
An-Nahar 🇱🇧LB · newspaper · independent الأسواق العالمية اليوم: النفط فوق 102 دولار والفائدة تضغط على الأسهم Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at An-Nahar → What we have measured Accused named the accused is named and his age is given ×1Accused named names the accused and gives his age ×1A contested finding relayed with the case still the prime minister's claim carried, with the court proceedings noted in the same sentence ×1Active voice and a toll in the background paragraph, the July strikes get named actors and counted dead — the only counted dead in this story ×1 from 10777 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → — independent
The only report pricing both benchmarks at once — Brent about $102.15, US crude about $97.50 — and the only one naming what it thinks is pushing them: Hormuz shipping disruption, the widening American-Iranian
بقي النفط المحرك الأبرز للأسواق العالمية خلال تعاملات الخميس، إذ تداول خام برنت عند نحو 102.15 دولار للبرميل، فيما بلغ الخام الأميركي قرابة 97.50 دولاراً. ويعكس الصعود مخاوف من استمرار اضطراب الشحن عبر مضيق هرمز واتساع المواجهة الأميركية الإيرانية، بالتزامن مع زيادة مشتريات المصافي الصينية لتعويض تراجع إمدادات أخرى.وأعاد ارتفاع الطاقة مخاوف التضخم إلى الواجهة، بما قد يدفع المصارف المركزية إلى إبقاء معدلات الفائدة مرتفعة أو زيادتها. ورفع المصرف المركزي الأوروبي معدل الفائدة على الودائع بواقع 25 نقطة أساس إلى 2.5 في المئة، في ثاني زيادة خلال عام 2026، بعدما تجاوز معدل التضخم في منطقة اليورو ثلاث
Which figure is chosen: two benchmarks, both hedged as approximate — “إذ تداول خام برنت عند نحو 102.15 دولار للبرميل، فيما بلغ الخام الأميركي قرابة 97.50 دولاراً”
Figure and its precision: two benchmarks, both hedged as approximate, three dollars below the other report's Brent — “تداول خام برنت عند نحو 102.15 دولار للبرميل، فيما بلغ الخام الأميركي قرابة 97.50 دولاراً”
Read it at An-Nahar → https://www.annahar.com/economy/346055/الأسواق-العالمية-اليوم-النفط-فوق…
LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International)
Centre estimate · not a score
LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International) 🇱🇧LB · TV/radio · independent العقود الآجلة للخام الأميركي تصل إلى 100 دولار للبرميل لأول مرة منذ 21 أيار وسط تصاعد حدة الصراع في الشرق الأوسط Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International) → What we have measured Active voice, actor named the Israeli army carried out the detonation ×1Actor framing Tehran calls the meeting. Iraq is the only other state named. ×1Actor left unnamed the strike in Iraqi waters has no one named as firing it — the source is "unknown" ×1Actor named names Israel as the one striking ×1 from 8159 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → — independent
The only report that dates the level: US crude futures at $100 for the first time since 21 May. It is also the only one pricing futures rather than a cargo.
What the number is compared against: a threshold plus the date it was last crossed — “العقود الآجلة للخام الأميركي تصل إلى 100 دولار للبرميل لأول مرة منذ 21 أيار”
Measure chosen: futures, not spot, anchored to the last date the level was seen — “العقود الآجلة للخام الأميركي تصل إلى 100 دولار للبرميل لأول مرة منذ 21 أيار وسط تصاعد حدة الصراع في الشرق الأوسط”
Read it at LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International) → https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/latest-news/956882/title/ar?src=rss&utm_so…
Al-Monitor
Centre estimate · not a score
Al-Monitor 🇺🇸US/ME · digital · independent Saudi Arabia’s oil production slumps to lowest in 36 years as war bites Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Al-Monitor → What we have measured Actor from anonymous officials Puts the IRGC at the trigger in a sentence sourc ×1Actor named Names the Director-General as the one who requested the dismissal ×1Actor named names Trump as the one who began the war, with Israel ×1Actor named names Israel as the actor in its military actions against the Palestinians ×1 from 1566 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → — independent
The only supply figure: Saudi crude output down 1.9 million to 6.238 million barrels a day in August, attributed to the kingdom's own filing to OPEC. Its headline states war as the cause; the body attributes only the
Saudi Arabia’s oil production slumps to lowest in 36 years as war bites The kingdom reported to OPEC that crude output fell by 1.9 million to 6.238 million barrels per day in August. Jack Dutton Sep 10, 2026 Add AL-MONITOR on Google A picture taken on Sept. 15, 2019, shows an Aramco oil facility near the area of al-Khurj, just south of the Saudi capital Riyadh. — FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images عربي 简体中文 Español Saudi Arabia has reported to OPEC that its oil production plunged to its lowest since 1990 last month as the kingdom’s export routes have been squeezed by attacks by Iran and Yeme
Stated or attributed: the output figure attributed to the producer's own filing; the cause stated flat in the headline — “The kingdom reported to OPEC that crude output fell by 1.9 million to 6.238 million barrels per day in August.”
Cause asserted: the headline states war as the cause; the body attributes only the volume, to the producer's own filing — “Saudi Arabia’s oil production slumps to lowest in 36 years as war bites”
Read it at Al-Monitor → https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/09/saudi-arabias-oil-producti…
Shargh
Centre-left estimate · not a score
Shargh 🇮🇷IR · newspaper · independent روز گذشته فقط ۷ کشتی‌ از تنگه هرمز عبور کردند Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Shargh → What we have measured A count with its base both days given, and the data called preliminary ×1Actor named as a state the attack is Yemen's, not the Houthis' ×1A different actor does the asking Pakistan's army chief, not Beijing, is the one asking Tehran to use its influence, on the word of unnamed Pakistani government sources. ×1'aggression' in the narration The US campaign is called aggression in the report's own narration, which it credits to Al-Ahram's account of the call. ×1 from 10199 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → — independent
The only count of the disruption itself: 7 ships through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday against 12 on Tuesday, and it calls the tracking data preliminary.
جهان ۱۹ شهریور ۱۴۰۵ ۱۴:۰۹ رویترز: روز گذشته فقط ۷ کشتی‌ از تنگه هرمز عبور کردند داده‌های اولیه ردیابی تردد کشتی‌ها نشان می‌دهد شمار کشتی‌هایی که روز چهارشنبه از تنگه هرمز عبور کردند به ۷ فروند کاهش یافته است؛ این رقم در روز سه‌شنبه ۱۲ فروند بود. به گزارش گروه رسانه‌ای شرق، رویترز نوشت: داده‌های اولیه ردیابی تردد کشتی‌ها نشان می‌دهد شمار کشتی‌هایی که روز چهارشنبه از تنگه هرمز عبور کردند به ۷ فروند کاهش یافته است؛ این رقم در روز سه‌شنبه ۱۲ فروند بود. این میزان پایین‌تر از میانگین ۱۰ روزه، یعنی ۱۴ کشتی، قرار دارد. بر اساس داده‌های موجود تا روز پنجشنبه، ۴ کشتی از تنگه خارج و ۳ کشتی وارد آن شده‌اند
A count with its base: both days given, and the data called preliminary — “شمار کشتی‌هایی که روز چهارشنبه از تنگه هرمز عبور کردند به ۷ فروند کاهش یافته است؛ این رقم در روز سه‌شنبه ۱۲ فروند بود”
What is counted: the only countable measure of the disruption itself, with a day-on-day comparison — “شمار کشتی‌هایی که روز چهارشنبه از تنگه هرمز عبور کردند به ۷ فروند کاهش یافته است؛ این رقم در روز سه‌شنبه ۱۲ فروند بود.”
Read it at Shargh → https://www.sharghdaily.com/fa/tiny/news-1127031
A Asharq Al-Awsat
Centre-right estimate · not a score
Asharq Al-Awsat 🇸🇦SA · digital · Asian Shares Fall and Oil Prices Trade above $100 a Barrel Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Asharq Al-Awsat → What we have measured Active voice, both actors named the killing of Iran's supreme leader is given an actor and a date, unhedged ×1Active voice for the actor soldiers and settlers are both named as acting ×1Anyone hurt is counted, not named three dead given as a figure and a job title ×1Are the hurt named or counted The dead man and the wounded are a count inside an official's quote; nobody is named, and no ages, roles or nationalities are given. ×1 from 3032 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → —
Carries no figure at all — oil "above $100 a barrel", no benchmark named — and is the only report to set the price alongside falling Asian shares.
Asian shares skidded Thursday following a retreat on Wall Street as the price of crude oil again traded above $100 a barrel. US futures were modestly higher, The Associated Press said. The price of Brent crude jumped 3.4% on Wednesday, surging above $100 a barrel for the first time since July. It shed 0.8% to $100.39 early Thursday. US benchmark crude lost 0.6% to $95.52 a barrel. The latest attacks between the US and Iran are stifling the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, and US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that oil prices likely won’t fall until after US midterm elections. I
What the number counts: above $100 with no benchmark named and no source — “Asian Shares Fall and Oil Prices Trade above $100 a Barrel”
Measure chosen: a round threshold with no benchmark named and no figure given — “Asian Shares Fall and Oil Prices Trade above $100 a Barrel”
Read it at Asharq Al-Awsat → https://english.aawsat.com/node/5316696
Checked, didn’t cover
Haaretz
Centre-left estimate · not a score
Haaretz 🇮🇱IL · newspaper · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured A previous framing corrected the twelve-country statement described as ambiguously worded ×1Asserted flat The report states as fact that barring Arab parties is a standing ritual. ×1Asserted flat The report says ethnicity explains the different outcomes, in its own voice. ×1Asserted in the report's own voice Parties are characterised by what they are said to promise, unattributed, and the headline calls the result frightening. ×1 from 1936 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → Palestine TV · Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation
State / loyalist estimate · not a score
Palestine TV · Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation 🇵🇸PS · TV/radio · state-controlled No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Asserted versus attributed recognition itself stated as fact ×1Attribution 'historic' attributed to the Palestinian ambassador ×1Dead counted, not named two dead are counted as 'citizens' and none are named; the wounded are not counted ×1Dead named Gives the dead man's full name and age. ×1 from 766 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → Ynet
Centre estimate · not a score
Ynet 🇮🇱IL · digital · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured A claim in the headline that the other reports very close to deciding the regime appears in one report only ×1Active voice The killers are the subject of the verbs 'beat' and 'burned'. ×1Active voice The killers are named as acting ×1Army's term, attributed the army names the target of its strikes, and no one on the other side is quoted ×1 from 2684 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → North Press Agency
Centre estimate · not a score
North Press Agency 🇸🇾SY · wire · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Attribution the damage list is carried in full, attributed to the side claiming it ×1Single official source Uses the Saudi Press Agency's account: 'bilateral relations', with no mention of reconstruction or money. ×1What is at stake presents the stakes as trade and energy security; no ship, crew or price is counted ×1Which line is led with led by the legal instrument, naming the Security Council resolution by number ×1 from 1169 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → Tehran Times
State / loyalist estimate · not a score
Tehran Times 🇮🇷IR · newspaper · state-controlled No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Asserted vs attributed headline states the seizure flat; the body attributes it to the claimant ×1Attribution the toll is attributed to a body that is described but not named ×1Headline against body headline states the seizure flat; the body attributes it to the IRGC ×1How the objectors are framed opposition is described as protesters speaking for civilians ×1 from 1753 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → Al Jazeera English
Centre estimate · not a score
Al Jazeera English 🇶🇦QA · TV/radio · state-funded international No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Accusation attributed Cuba's charge is attributed to its foreign minister, not stated as fact ×1Actor named The headline names Israel as the actor and gives a count of three that includes a child. ×1Agency No actor is named for the detentions. The raids, not the soldiers, 'left' the town in lockdown ×1Agency Names Israel as the actor in the headline, in active voice ×1 from 4959 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Silence is recorded, not inferred — each of these was read when we built this story and carried nothing on this event.
We could not read these
K Kan · Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation
Centre estimate · not a score
Kan · Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation 🇮🇱IL · public broadcaster · public-service No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Nothing scored yet. We do not carry a rating for any outlet — only what we have measured from published text. Outlet profile in The AI Times → The Times of Israel
Centre estimate · not a score
The Times of Israel 🇮🇱IL · digital · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Actorless in own voice The killing is passive with no shooter in the se ×1Headline carries the purpose The livestock and the army's reason are in the h ×1Headline frame The headline carries the military's word for the ×1Military words carried whole Both the label for the dead and the phrase for t ×1 from 149 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → A Al-Sabaah
State / loyalist estimate · not a score
Al-Sabaah 🇮🇶IQ · newspaper · state-controlled No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Nothing scored yet. We do not carry a rating for any outlet — only what we have measured from published text. Outlet profile in The AI Times → Ma'an News Agency
Centre estimate · not a score
Ma'an News Agency 🇵🇸PS · digital · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Nothing scored yet. We do not carry a rating for any outlet — only what we have measured from published text. Outlet profile in The AI Times → Al Rai
State / loyalist estimate · not a score
Al Rai 🇯🇴JO · newspaper · state-controlled No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Nothing scored yet. We do not carry a rating for any outlet — only what we have measured from published text. Outlet profile in The AI Times → Al-Mada
Centre-left estimate · not a score
Al-Mada 🇮🇶IQ · newspaper · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Nothing scored yet. We do not carry a rating for any outlet — only what we have measured from published text. Outlet profile in The AI Times → WAFA · Palestinian News & Information Agency
State / loyalist estimate · not a score
WAFA · Palestinian News & Information Agency 🇵🇸PS · state agency · state-controlled No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Nothing scored yet. We do not carry a rating for any outlet — only what we have measured from published text. Outlet profile in The AI Times → SANA (Syrian Arab News Agency)
State / loyalist estimate · not a score
SANA (Syrian Arab News Agency) 🇸🇾SY · state agency · state-controlled No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Nothing scored yet. We do not carry a rating for any outlet — only what we have measured from published text. Outlet profile in The AI Times → Al-Manar
State-owned, sometimes critical estimate · not a score
Al-Manar 🇱🇧LB · TV/radio · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Nothing scored yet. We do not carry a rating for any outlet — only what we have measured from published text. Outlet profile in The AI Times → Galei Tzahal (Army Radio)
State / loyalist estimate · not a score
Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) 🇮🇱IL · TV/radio · state-controlled No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Nothing scored yet. We do not carry a rating for any outlet — only what we have measured from published text. Outlet profile in The AI Times → Middle East Eye
Centre-left estimate · not a score
Middle East Eye 🇬🇧UK · digital · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured How hard the claim is stated Its own body says the investigators did not attribute the network to the Emirati state — the qualification its headline drops. ×1How hard the claim is stated The body withdraws in one line the attribution its own headline makes ×1How deeply it is sourced Cites its own past reporting as the evidence for the claim in its own headline, and calls the evidence widespread in its own voice ×1How deeply it is sourced Offers its own past reporting as the evidence supporting the claim in its headline, inside the same sentence that carries the denial. ×1 from 125 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → Ammon News
Centre estimate · not a score
Ammon News 🇯🇴JO · digital · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Nothing scored yet. We do not carry a rating for any outlet — only what we have measured from published text. Outlet profile in The AI Times →
These are must-cite outlets for this desk that we did not manage to read when we built this story. That is a gap in our reach, not a silence on their part, and it is not evidence of anything about this story.

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