Trump accuses Iran of faking attacks to drive up oil prices ahead of US midterms

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Thursday accused Iran of deliberately trying to drive up global oil prices ahead of next month's US midterm elections. He said Tehran was staging fake attacks and mines in the Strait of Hormuz to disrupt oil supplies, Times Now reported, citing a post by Trump on Truth Social.

"Iran is doing everything they can to drive up the price of Oil prior to the US Midterm Election. They are even making up fake hits, mines, and everything else," Trump said in the post. He claimed that more oil was currently passing through the Strait of Hormuz than before the conflict began.

Trump also accused Iran of continuing to kill protesters and "anyone else that happens to be in their way," according to the post. The Strait of Hormuz is a key global oil transit route, and any disruption to shipping through it has repeatedly triggered volatility in crude prices.

Oil prices rose on Thursday to their highest level since May. Brent crude topped USD 112 a barrel while West Texas Intermediate crude traded above USD 100 a barrel, Times Now reported.

The New York Times has reported that the United States and Israel have drawn up plans for renewed strikes on Iran after the November 3 midterm elections. The United States has also ordered non-essential embassy personnel to leave Saudi Arabia following a series of attacks on the kingdom's airports and oil fields, according to the report cited by Times Now.

Trump's accusation adds a political dimension to the administration's handling of energy prices ahead of the midterms, Arab News reported. Republicans face pressure to contain gasoline costs as campaigning intensifies before the November 3 vote.