LONDON: Oil prices rose on Wednesday after an attack on the headquarters of Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company, while Iranian officials told Reuters they were deploying new tactics to target ships, seeking to keep oil prices high and influence US midterm elections.

Brent crude futures rose 91 cents, or 0.9 per cent, to US$106.60 a barrel at 1110 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude rose US$1.65, or 1.8 per cent, to US$95.79 a barrel, its highest in more than two weeks.

"Attacks on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz and military strikes between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis are supporting prices as market participants remain concerned about lower oil exports from the region," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo, adding that exports had held up so far.