UK Defence Minister John Healey suggested on Thursday that Russia was influencing Iran’s use of drone attacks in its war with the United States and Israel.

The US military is currently “not ready” to escort tankers through the critical Strait of Hormuz because all its assets are focused on striking Iran, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Thursday.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that stopping Iran from getting nuclear weapons was more important to him than controlling oil prices.

“The change to wildlife imagery …  provides an opportunity to celebrate another important aspect of the UK,” it added.

The Mideast war “is creating the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market”, as Iran’s chokehold on regional supplies forces Gulf oil producers to slash production, the International Energy Agency said Thursday.

The opening week of the war against Iran cost the United States more than $11.3 billion, lawmakers were told in a Pentagon briefing, according to a New York Times report underscoring the pace at which the conflict is consuming weapons and resources.

“We don’t want to leave early, do we? We’ve got to finish the job, right?” Trump said while talking about the US-Israeli operation against Iran during a speech in Hebron, Kentucky.

Iran launched a new wave of attacks against Gulf energy targets on Thursday, hours after two oil tankers were hit, sending crude prices soaring again despite record reserve releases.

At least one Nigerian has been identified among dozens of people affected during the interception of Iranian ballistic missiles in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Iran said Wednesday it was ready for a long war of attrition that would “destroy” the world economy, after firing on two commercial ships and threatening any vessels from the US or its allies.