NEW YORK: Oil prices rose on Wednesday after the Houthis attacked Saudi Aramco’s headquarters and Iran said it was deploying new tactics to target ships and keep oil prices high.
Brent crude futures were up 87 cents, or 0.82 per cent, at $106.56 a barrel by 1:25pm ET (1725 GMT). US West Texas Intermediate crude gained $1.46, or 1.55pc, to $95.60, touching a three-week high.
Attacks on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and strikes between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-allied Houthis are driving up oil prices, said Phil Flynn, senior analyst with the Price Futures Group. “We’re seeing a lot of fear trade today,” he added.
Iranian officials declined to detail the new strategy to target ships, but one said Iran began using different offensive tactics about 10 days ago.
Gulf oil flows excluding Iran surged in September to more than 81pc of prewar levels, data showed, led by a recovery in Saudi exports. Iranian exports fell to zero owing to a US blockade.
Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2026
