Oil prices climbed on the back of escalating tensions in the Middle East after Iran shot down a US military drone yesterday. International Benchmark Brent crude futures rose 0.6%, to $64.84 a barrel. US WTI crude was traded 0.6% higher, at $57.39 a barrel. While Washington said that the drone was in international airspace, the Persian country justified shooting down the unarmed Global Hawk surveillance drone on grounds of spying.