Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government expressed concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East after Iranian attacks left oil tankers burning in Iraqi waters, undermining President Donald Trump’s claim that he had already won the war he launched two weeks ago.
Images verified by Reuters, filmed from the shore of the port of Basra, showed vessels engulfed in towering orange flames that lit up the night sky.
Iraqi authorities reported that the ships had been attacked overnight by Iranian boats laden with explosives, killing at least one crew member.
Earlier on Thursday, three other vessels were struck in the Gulf. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for one of the attacks, Thai bulk carrier that was set alight after allegedly failing to obey their orders.
Another container ship near the United Arab Emirates was reportedly hit by an unknown projectile, according to a maritime security authority.
The war, launched by the United States and Israel, has so far claimed around 2,000 lives and triggered the most serious disruption to global energy supplies since the 1970s oil shocks.
Drones were reported flying into Kuwait, Iraq, the UAE, Bahrain, and Oman on Thursday, highlighting the continued strength of Iran’s long range capabilities.
Oil prices, which had eased earlier in the week after Trump insisted the conflict would soon end, surged past $100 a barrel.
Iran has warned it will not allow oil to transit the Strait of Hormuz until US and Israeli attacks cease, and it has ruled out negotiations with Washington.
Citibank announced temporary branch closures in the UAE following Iranian warnings that banks could be legitimate targets, while HSBC has closed branches in Qatar.
Thursday’s surge in oil prices came despite a coordinated announcement that developed nations would release 400 million barrels from strategic reserves, nearly half from the United States an intervention expected to cover just three weeks of supply.
“The only way to see oil prices trade lower on a sustained basis is by getting oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz,” ING analysts said. “Failing to do so means the market highs are still ahead of us.”
Trump, speaking at a campaign style rally in Hebron, Kentucky, insisted: “We won. In the first hour it was over. We’ve virtually destroyed Iran. But we don’t want to leave early we’ve got to finish the job.”
However, US intelligence sources told Reuters that Iran’s leadership remains largely intact, and the country’s military strategy is now focused on imposing a prolonged economic shock to pressure Washington. Analysts warned that oil prices could reach $200 a barrel amid continued instability.
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