Oil rises for fourth session on Middle East conflict and Strait of Hormuz risks

WASHINGTON, United States — Oil prices climbed for a fourth consecutive trading day on Thursday as renewed U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets raised the risk of a wider Middle East conflict and threatened to disrupt flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The United States launched attacks on Iranian coastal defense assets and missile facilities a day after reimposing a maritime blockade on Iran's ports, according to market reporting. Iran responded by warning that it could further obstruct energy exports from the region, framing its confrontation with Washington as an "existential struggle," the reports said. The threat has heightened concerns among traders about supply disruptions in one of the world's most critical oil chokepoints. Brent crude futures rose 0.4% to $85.28 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate futures gained 0.5% to $80.02 a barrel. Both benchmarks had added 0.3% the previous day and were trading near one-month highs recorded on Tuesday.