* Pentagon orders additional troops to be deployed in
Mideast
* Pompeo says U.S. aims to avoid war with Iran
* Exxon, Valero restart units at Texas refineries after
storm
By Florence Tan
SINGAPORE, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Oil prices gained more than
1% to hit their highest levels in two sessions at the start of
Monday's trade as Middle East tensions remained elevated,
supporting prices.
The Pentagon has ordered additional troops to be deployed in
the Gulf region to strengthen Saudi Arabia's air and missile
defences following an attack on Saudi oil facilities.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday that the
troops are for "deterrence and defence" and Washington aimed to
avoid war with Iran.
Brent crude futures LCOc1 touched an intraday high of
$65.50 a barrel, but eased to $64.97, up 69 cents by 2323 GMT.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures CLc1 were at
$58.78 a barrel, up 69 cents, after earlier hitting a high of
$59.39.
In the United States, the impact of Tropical Storm Imelda on
refineries in Texas has eased as Exxon Mobil Corp and Valero
Corp restarted their crude processing units over the weekend.