Benchmark crude oil prices surged well over 4% on Thursday on fears of an Israeli strike that could target Iran’s oil and gas infrastructure, with Washington attempting to put the brakes on exploding oil prices with assurances that there will be no Israeli strike today. At 10:47 a.m. ET on Thursday, Brent crude was trading up 3.83%, slightly tapering its upward trajectory of well over 4% just half an hour prior, sitting at $76.73. The U.S. benchmark crude, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), was trading up 4.25% at $73.08 per barrel. Earlier…