Oil prices rose by over a dollar in early trading today, Wednesday, following new Iranian attacks on US military facilities in the Gulf region, signaling an expanding regional conflict. Brent crude futures reached $99.49 per barrel (up $1.57 or 1.6%) by
00:01 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude increased to $94.63 per barrel (up $1.60 or 1.72%). This surge follows a jump in Brent prices of about 25% since early August, attributed to fading hopes for a lasting resolution to
the six-month conflict and renewed fighting. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced its ballistic missile attacks on two US destroyers and a US base in Al-Azraq, Jordan, stating these were in response to previous US attacks targeting Iranian oil tankers. Official
Jordanian reports indicated that air defense systems engaged 20 ballistic missiles, successfully intercepting and destroying 18, while two fell in uninhabited areas with no human casualties. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Tehran that the United States would continue striking
Iranian oil tankers in response to attempts to attack its warships. Speaking in Colombia, Rubio stated: "Iran continues its attempts to strike U.S. Navy vessels, and every time it does or tries to do so, it will lose oil tankers." The
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Tuesday that its forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers on September 8, following previous attempts to attack a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles.
