Oil prices climbed more than $4 on Thursday after president Donald Trump said the US will continue to attack Iran, including energy and oil targets, over the next few weeks.
Brent crude futures rose $4.88, or 4.8 per cent, to $106.04 per barrel by 2am GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up $4.17, or 4.2 per cent, to $104.29 per barrel.
In his address to the nation, Trump said almost all of America’s military objectives had been met, while rehashing many of his previous talking points about the conflict.
“Tonight, I’m pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion,” he said, though he offered no further information on what the objectives had been.
“As we celebrate this progress, we think especially of the 13 American warriors who have laid down their lives in this fight to prevent our children from ever having to face a nuclear Iran,” he added.
It comes after a new poll by CNN and SSRS found just one-third of Americans approve of the ongoing military action in the Middle East, with 67 per cent saying they don’t believe Trump has a clear plan for handling the situation.
