RABAT / Anadolu

Brent crude futures prices jumped more than 4.2% at the start of Monday's trading, recording around $79.2 per barrel, following additional strikes carried out by the US military against Iran.

US crude futures rose 4.3%, reaching around $74.5 per barrel at 05:00 GMT.

On Sunday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the start of additional strikes against Iran. It claimed the aim was to 'weaken' Tehran's ability to 'attack commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz'.

CENTCOM said in a post on its account on the US platform X that 'at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time today (21:00 GMT), US Central Command forces began conducting additional strikes against Iran,' in response to the latter's targeting of commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

In contrast, Iranian official media, including state television, reported hearing explosions on Qeshm Island and in the cities of Jask, Sirik, and Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan province, southern Iran.

According to official data and Anadolu monitoring, Iranian missile and drone attacks since Sunday have targeted Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Jordan, while Tehran said its operations were in response to US strikes and aimed at sites containing US forces in the region.

Washington and Tehran had signed a memorandum of understanding last June following Qatari and Pakistani mediation, paving the way for a final agreement to end the war, before US President Donald Trump announced on July 8 the end of the ceasefire due to renewed escalation.