Oil prices rose to three-week highs on Thursday as the impasse in the Iran war raised concerns about continued supply disruptions from the Middle East. Brent crude futures for October delivery gained $1.20, or 1.3%, to $92.82 a barrel by 0813 GMT, while September U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose 92 cents to $86.75. The more-active October WTI contract added $1.13, or 1.3%, to $85.52. Both benchmarks reached their highest levels since late July, extending gains to a fifth consecutive session. Analysts Giovanni Staunovo of UBS and Hiroyuki Kikukawa of Nissan Securities Investment cited heightened regional tensions, reduced Middle East exports and uncertainty over peace talks. The United Arab Emirates' suspension of financial and economic transactions with Iran has renewed focus on relations between the Gulf oil producer and Iran. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained unchanged on Wednesday while discussions to end the conflict stayed deadlocked, with current flows far below the pre-war level of shipments equal to about one-fifth of global oil consumption. The conflict has also tightened refined-fuel supply and reduced inventories: U.S. distillate stockpiles fell for a third consecutive week, although crude inventories unexpectedly increased by 4.4 million barrels.