As armed clashes between the United States and Iran escalate once again, international oil prices have surged by over 3%.

Tensions in the Middle East are pushing oil prices upward once more.

On the 9th local time, Brent crude surpassed 100 dollars per barrel to close at its highest level in about four months.

At the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London, Brent crude for November delivery finished trading up 3.29 dollars, or 3.36%, at 101.21 dollars per barrel.

This marks the highest closing price since May 22.

It is also the first time the closing price has exceeded 100 dollars since July 23.

At the New York Mercantile Exchange, the closing price for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for October delivery finished up 3.02 dollars, or 3.25%, at 96.05 dollars per barrel.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that, in response to an attack by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on a US Navy vessel the previous day, it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers.

In retaliation, Iran claimed it attacked a US military base in Jordan with ballistic missiles.

The IRGC has also issued a warning that it will expand its maritime control zone in the Strait of Hormuz to include parts of the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.