Iran accused the US and Israel of cloaking military strikes against its nuclear facilities beneath the legal authority wielded by inspectors at the United Nations nuclear watchdog.

The Iranian government is taking an increasingly aggressive approach as it confronts a growing economic threat and worries that its grip on the Strait of Hormuz is slipping, analysts say.

The U.S. denied Iran’s claim that it struck two American vessels as the two sides traded attacks near the Strait of Hormuz and Brent crude hit $100 a barrel.

Brent crude oil prices, a benchmark for global trading, climbed on Wednesday by about 2.7%, trading at about $100.57 a barrel for contracts with November dates. U.S. oil traded at about $95 a barrel, up by about 2%.

Higher prices for gasoline and diesel fuel have soured Americans on the war and helped drive Trump’s approval rating into the toilet.

Yemen's Tehran-backed Houthis attacked four cities in the south of U.S. ally Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, wounding more than 70 people and setting oil installations ablaze.

The weapons system officer was part of the two-man crew shot down over Iran, prompting one of the most complex rescue operations in U.S. military history.

By Andrea Shalal and David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday issued 36 Iran-related sanctions targeting the country's aviation sector and other companies as part of a broad push to escalate economic pressure on Tehran as the war in the Middle East has moved into a seventh month.

Saudi Arabia is vowing a resolute response to a wave of attacks from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels early Tuesday that it said wounded at least 73 civilians.

The IRGC also claimed ballistic missile attacks on Jordan and Bahrain overnight.