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    <title>Aaj TV English News - Business &amp; Economy</title>
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    <copyright>Copyright 2026</copyright>
    <pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 10:17:07 +0500</pubDate>
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      <title>Oil touches 2-week high after drone attack on UAE nuclear power plant</title>
      <link>https://english.aaj.tv/news/330459130/oil-touches-2-week-high-after-drone-attack-on-uae-nuclear-power-plant</link>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Oil prices extended gains on Monday as efforts to end the US-Israeli war on Iran appeared to have stalled, after a nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates came under attack and as US ​President Donald Trump is expected to discuss military options on Iran.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Brent crude futures climbed $2.03, or 1.86%, ​to $111.29 a barrel, after touching $112 earlier, the highest since May 5.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;US West ⁠Texas Intermediate crude was at $107.73 a barrel, up $2.31, or 2.19%, following a rise to $108.70, its highest level since April ​30. The front-month June contract expires on Tuesday.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Both contracts gained more than 7% last week as hopes ​of a peace deal that would end ship attacks and seizures around the Strait of Hormuz dimmed.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Last week’s talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping ended without an indication from the world’s top oil importer that it ​would help resolve the conflict.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“The longer the conflict with Iran persists, the greater the risk of protracted ​oil price scarring, which could keep interest rates higher for longer,” Prestige Economics’ Jason Schenker said in a note.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“This ‌could ⁠also present persistent downside risks to growth.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Drone attacks on the UAE and Saudi Arabia and rhetoric from the US and Iran raised concerns of an escalation in the conflict.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Emirati officials said they were investigating the source of the strike on the Barakah nuclear power plant and that the UAE had the full right ​to respond to such “terrorist ​attacks.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Saudi Arabia, which intercepted ⁠three drones that entered from Iraqi airspace, warned it would take the necessary operational measures to respond to any attempt to violate its sovereignty and security.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“These ​drone strikes are a pointed warning — renewed US or Israeli strikes on ​Iran could trigger ⁠more proxy attacks on Gulf energy and critical infrastructure by Iran or its regional proxies,” IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Trump is expected to meet top national security advisers on Tuesday to discuss options for ⁠military action ​regarding Iran, Axios reported.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Separately, in a move that could support oil ​prices, the Trump administration on Saturday allowed a sanctions waiver to lapse that had previously allowed countries, including India, to buy Russian seaborne ​oil after a month-long extension.&lt;/p&gt;
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      <content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[<p><strong>Oil prices extended gains on Monday as efforts to end the US-Israeli war on Iran appeared to have stalled, after a nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates came under attack and as US ​President Donald Trump is expected to discuss military options on Iran.</strong></p>
<p>Brent crude futures climbed $2.03, or 1.86%, ​to $111.29 a barrel, after touching $112 earlier, the highest since May 5.</p>
<p>US West ⁠Texas Intermediate crude was at $107.73 a barrel, up $2.31, or 2.19%, following a rise to $108.70, its highest level since April ​30. The front-month June contract expires on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Both contracts gained more than 7% last week as hopes ​of a peace deal that would end ship attacks and seizures around the Strait of Hormuz dimmed.</p>
<p>Last week’s talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping ended without an indication from the world’s top oil importer that it ​would help resolve the conflict.</p>
<p>“The longer the conflict with Iran persists, the greater the risk of protracted ​oil price scarring, which could keep interest rates higher for longer,” Prestige Economics’ Jason Schenker said in a note.</p>
<p>“This ‌could ⁠also present persistent downside risks to growth.”</p>
<p>Drone attacks on the UAE and Saudi Arabia and rhetoric from the US and Iran raised concerns of an escalation in the conflict.</p>
<p>Emirati officials said they were investigating the source of the strike on the Barakah nuclear power plant and that the UAE had the full right ​to respond to such “terrorist ​attacks.”</p>
<p>Saudi Arabia, which intercepted ⁠three drones that entered from Iraqi airspace, warned it would take the necessary operational measures to respond to any attempt to violate its sovereignty and security.</p>
<p>“These ​drone strikes are a pointed warning — renewed US or Israeli strikes on ​Iran could trigger ⁠more proxy attacks on Gulf energy and critical infrastructure by Iran or its regional proxies,” IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said.</p>
<p>Trump is expected to meet top national security advisers on Tuesday to discuss options for ⁠military action ​regarding Iran, Axios reported.</p>
<p>Separately, in a move that could support oil ​prices, the Trump administration on Saturday allowed a sanctions waiver to lapse that had previously allowed countries, including India, to buy Russian seaborne ​oil after a month-long extension.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Business &amp; Economy</category>
      <guid>https://english.aaj.tv/news/330459130</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 09:31:07 +0500</pubDate>
      <author>none@none.com (Reuters)</author>
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        <media:title>Reuters file</media:title>
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