LONDON, May 4 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose over 3% on Monday after Iran claimed it had struck a U.S. warship and forced it to turn back from entering the Strait of Hormuz, though the U.S. denied that any U.S. ships had been struck.
Brent crude futures were up $3.64, or 3.4%, at $111.81 a barrel by 1124 GMT, having settled down $2.23 on Friday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was up $3.40, or 3.3%, at $105.34 a barrel, after a $3.13 loss on Friday.
Fars reported on Monday citing local sources that it had struck a U.S. warship intending to pass through the Strait and forced it to turn back. U.S. Central Command denied that any U.S. Navy ships had been struck on Monday.
Prices were already trading up in the session on continued disruptions to oil supplies through the strait.
“The path for prices remains skewed to the upside as long as flows through the Strait remain restricted,” UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.
