Oil rose more than $2 a barrel on Monday towards a new record high of $143, propelled by heightened tensions between Israel and Iran over Tehran?s nuclear programme.

A fall in the US dollar to three-week lows versus the euro helped boost the market. US light crude was up $2.42 at $142.63 a barrel by 0929 GMT, within reach of the record $142.99 struck on Friday. London Brent crude was up $2.39 cents to $142.70.

?The US dollar is down and there are many high-level geopolitical news items, particularly in the Middle East, that are pushing prices up,? said Mark Pervan, a senior commodities analyst at the Australian & New Zealand (ANZ) Bank in Melbourne.

Iran?s Revolutionary Guards have said Iran would impose controls on shipping in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz if it were attacked.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway separating Iran from the Arabian Peninsula, accounts for roughly 40 % of the world?s traded oil flows.

Iran?s foreign minister said on Sunday he did not believe Israel was in a position to attack his country over its nuclear programme. Oil prices have jumped more than 40 % this year, extending a six-year rally, in response to Middle East tensions, plus expectations that supply will struggle to keep pace with rising demand from emerging economies such as China and India. The market is sensitive to any supply disruptions.

A succession of militant attacks on Nigeria?s oil facilities that have shut a fifth of the country?s output since early 2006 has helped drive the market higher.

A flood of cash from investors moving into commodities away from sagging global equity markets and to hedge against inflation and the weak dollar has also contributed to oil?s rise. Some blame these ?speculators? for the market?s rapid climb since the start of this year, others say it is more to do with supply/demand fundamentals.

Tony Hayward, chief executive of international oil company BP Plc said: ?This is a fundamental signal, this is not about speculation.?

The market will watch US economic indicators as well as the European Central Bank?s interest rates decision on Thursday for further guidance on the US dollar.