LONDON, Feb 16 (AFP) - World oil prices surged briefly on Wednesday after a powerful blast occurred near Iran's Gulf port of Daylam, analysts said.
New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in March, soared to as high as 48.30 dollars a barrel, a rise of 1.04 dollars on Tuesday's closing level, after rumours the blast was caused by a missile.
The contract stood at 47.60 dollars at about 1445 GMT after an Iranian government source said the explosion could have been the result of a fuel tank falling from an Iranian plane, contradicting earlier reports that a missile had been fired.
In London, the price of Brent North Sea crude oil for delivery in April, advanced as high as 46.55 dollars a barrel, up 1.16 dollars.
The contract later stood at 45.71 dollars.
The surge was due to "the reports about a blast in Iran, nothing more, nothing less", Investec analyst Bruce Evers said.
"The market is afraid that the Americans are going to try to take over the Middle East, they are worried about a threat to Iranian (oil) supplies," he added.
Iranian television had reported the blast, as witnesses said they saw a missile being fired from an unidentified plane.
Iran is under intense international pressure over its nuclear activities, with the United States warning of possible military action.
02/16/2005 15:19 GMT - AFP