BEIJING/SINGAPORE: Oil prices jumped on Thursday as Iran stepped up attacks on oil and transport facilities across the Middle East, raising fears of a prolonged conflict and oil-flow disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent futures rose $8.54, or 9.28 percent, to $100.52 a barrel at 06:54 a.m. Saudi time, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was up $7.22, or 8.28 percent, to $94.47. Brent hit $119.50 a barrel on Monday, its highest since mid-2022, then dropped after US President Donald Trump said the Iran war could be over soon.

Oil prices climbed back above $100 per barrel Thursday after attacks on commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf raised fears of further disruptions to global energy supplies.

The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, has topped $100 a barrel again, jolting markets just days after it spiked near $120.