Oil prices rise as US-Iran peace hopes fade, ships attacked

Oil is a liquid from the ground that is turned into fuel for cars, planes, and ships.

Its price goes up when people worry there might not be enough of it.

This week, the price of oil went up because a peace deal between the United States and Iran looks less likely.

Ships carry oil through a very important narrow waterway called the Strait of Hormuz.

Some ships were attacked near that waterway and another route called Bab el-Mandeb, so fewer ships are passing through now.

In one attack, a cargo ship called Tihamah was hit, and sadly six people died.

Iran says the waterway will stay closed unless the United States agrees to its conditions.

New data shows the United States has a lot of extra oil stored up, which could help.

Still, many countries worry that fuel and other goods could become more expensive.

That is why people around the world are watching this situation carefully.