Oil rises after report of US strike on Iran’s Qeshm Island

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Oil prices rose in early Asian trade on Tuesday after a report that the United States had struck Iran’s Qeshm Island, raising concerns about an ​escalation of the eight-month conflict and prolonged disruptions to Middle East oil ‌supplies.Brent crude futures rose 48 cents, or 0.5%, to $105.25 a barrel by 0104 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 47 cents, or 0.5%, to $96.93 a barrel.Columnist Ron Bousso’s Reuters Power Up newsletter provides everything you need to know about the global energy industry. Sign up here.Brent crude futures settled $8.66, ​or 7.63%, lower to $104.77 a barrel on Monday.The United States struck Iran’s Qeshm Island, ​the Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials. Some officials described the assaults as defensive, meant to prevent Iran from attacking commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.“The report added a degree of risk ​premium back into the oil price. Just when markets were starting to price in a more diplomatic path, this reminder of ongoing military activity has flipped the tone,” said Tim Waterer, chief market ​analyst at KCM Trade.Meanwhile, Tehran said on Monday that contacts between Iran and the ​US to end their war are continuing, after days of Iranian talks with Qatari mediators ended with altered ‌proposals ⁠but no breakthrough.Trump raised doubts on Monday about whether he would follow through on a threatened resumption of military strikes against Iran and said a deal with Tehran could happen.The US-Iran conflict began in late February has sharply reduced traffic through the Strait of ​Hormuz, which previously carried ​about a fifth of ⁠global crude oil and natural gas supplies.The Iran war is a leading cause of high gasoline prices that are weighing on ​voters, and Trump is under pressure to end the conflict.Brent ended ​October at ⁠its highest in six months on concerns that the Middle East conflict could escalate again after Tuesday’s US midterm elections.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had ⁠granted ​the government certain authorities for peace talks.Additionally, the US will ​bring together delegations from Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11 to discuss ending Moscow’s war against ​Ukraine, post-war security agreements and de-escalation.