Oil prices rose than $6 per barrel (5.47 euros) this week and prices at the pump moved higher as well. The average price for a gallon of gas rose 5 cents from last week. Any major escalation of tensions in the Middle East conjures up memories of the oil embargo that followed the start of the Yom Kippur war in 1973, which quadrupled oil prices.

Energy analysts have questioned whether oil markets are being too complacent about the risk of a widening conflict in the Middle East.