Oil prices edged higher Wednesday as U.S. forces carried out another round of strikes against Tehran and Washington reinstated its naval blockade of Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures for August delivery rose 0.64% to $79.85 per barrel. September Futures for international benchmark Brent were up 0.58% at $85.22.
U.S. Central Command said late Tuesday stateside that it had carried out another wave of strikes against Iran late Tuesday, targeting dozens of military assets near the Strait of Hormuz and along Iran’s coastline in a seven-hour operation.
In a subsequent social media statement, Centcom Commander Brad Cooper said Iran had “intentionally” targeted civilians and attacked seven commercial vessels over the previous week, leaving roughly a dozen crew members dead, missing or injured.
