European stock markets have fallen to their intraday lows, with the price of Brent crude oil once again briefly surpassing $85 per barrel. Reports indicate that Iran has instructed Yemen's Houthi rebels to block the Red Sea shipping route should the United States strike its power grid.
The Stoxx 600 index fell by as much as 0.9% before paring some of those losses.
The utilities and telecommunications sectors were among the worst performers.