OIL PRICES RISE AGAIN

LONDON, JULY 13 /SRNA/ - Oil prices rose above $79 on international markets as the United States and Iran once again raised tensions in the dispute over the regulation of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

A barrel of oil on the London market was trading at $79.34 this afternoon, up $3.33 from the closing price at the end of last week. On the US market, it was $3.16 more expensive, reaching $74.57, Reuters reported.

At the beginning of the week, markets were unsettled by a new wave of attacks near the Strait of Hormuz.

Maritime traffic data show that the number of vessels passing through the strait yesterday fell to its lowest level in several weeks due to heightened security risks.

Only six vessels passed through the strait yesterday, according to data from the company Kpler, the lowest number in the past five weeks.

US President Donald Trump said today that the Strait of Hormuz is open for commercial traffic and that the United States is reimposing a naval blockade of Iran.