Iran Threatens to Expand Conflict into Indian Ocean

A high-ranking military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned that Tehran will take its conflict with the US 'all the way to the Indian Ocean' if attacked again, escalating tensions between the two nations.

Yahya Rahim Safavi made this statement in a video released by the Fars news agency, indicating that the front could expand beyond the Indian Ocean, where the U.S-British military base at Diego Garcia is located, nearly 2,500 miles from the Iranian coast.

The lack of diplomatic progress and escalating threats have driven up crude oil prices, with Brent crude rising 2.21% to $105.36 and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gaining 1.73% to $93.75.

Analyst Arne Lohmann Rasmussen believes that an agreement before the US midterm elections seems unlikely, suggesting that oil prices may be used as a tool to put pressure on Tehran.