#iran warned on March 11 that the prices of #oil on the world market could rise to as high as $200 per barrel because tensions in the Middle East are rising.
Ebrahim Zolfaqari, a spokesperson for the Iranian Army Command, said that #US actions that have made the region less safe are to blame for the rise in violence. He says that the rising volatility could make oil prices go up quickly in the near future.
Iran has said that it might use military force against banks that do business with the #US or #Israel . The warning came after reports of an attack on a bank's office in Tehran the night before.
The news broke after Iran acknowledged its forces had fired upon commercial vessels attempting to navigate the Strait of Hormuz.
At least three ships were damaged or caught fire on March 11. These ships were a bulk carrier flying the flag of Thailand, a container ship registered in Japan, and another bulk carrier flying the flag of the Marshall Islands.
Since the Middle East crisis began, 14 commercial ships have reportedly been attacked. This raises concerns about the safety of marine routes and the security of international energy supply routes.
