Oil prices climb as Mideast war flares

Oil prices climbed on Wednesday to near $100 a barrel in early Asia trade, as war in the Middle East threatened to further choke supply from the crude-rich region.

The price of Brent crude, the benchmark international contract, rose to $99.38 per barrel, while the main US contract West Texas Intermediate was at $94.51 per barrel.

Iran said on Wednesday it struck a US military base in Jordan and that it would target oil tankers off Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation for US strikes on its vessels.