US natural gas futures climbed toward $3 per MMBtu on Thursday, rebounding from a sharp decline in the prior session, as traders monitored escalating tensions in the US-Israel conflict involving Iran. Futures had dropped 4.5% on Wednesday after reports suggested Iran was open to talks to end the hostilities, a claim Tehran later denied. The conflict has now entered its sixth day with no sign of easing, following reports that the US sank an Iranian warship in international waters off Sri Lanka’s coast.
Supply concerns intensified as the world’s largest LNG facility in Qatar remained offline and the Strait of Hormuz was closed, heightening risks to global gas flows. President Trump pledged that the US would guarantee safe passage for vessels and, if needed, provide naval escorts through the region. At the same time, US natural gas inventories are expected to have declined again last week, underscoring ongoing winter-driven demand.
