London — Oil prices rose on Monday on worries over supply after tensions worsened between Iran and the US, while some offshore workers began a 24-hour strike on three oil and gas platforms in the British North Sea. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday backed a suggestion by President Hassan Rouhani that Iran could block Gulf oil shipments if its exports were stopped. The Iranian leadership was responding to the threat of US sanctions after President Donald Trump in May pulled out of a multinational agreement to trade with Tehran in return for its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons. The Trump administration has launched an offensive of speeches and online communications meant to foment unrest and help pressure Iran to end its nuclear programme and its support of militant groups, US officials said. Brent crude oil rose $1.19 a barrel to a high of $74.26 before easing to around $74.05 by 10.30am GMT. US light crude was up 70c at $68.96 a barrel. "Potential G...
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