** Shares of U.S. shipping companies rise in premarket trading after geopolitical tensions escalated following Israel's strike on Iran
** The Middle East was thrust into renewed conflict after Israel launched strikes against Iran, saying it targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders
** Geopolitical tensions raise the risk of oil supply disruptions, prompting increased demand for tankers to reroute shipments and maintain supply flow, driving up shipping rates due to longer routes, limited vessel availability, and higher insurance costs
** Shares of Navios Maritime Partners NMM.N climb 2% and Golden Ocean Group GOGL.O rises 2.2%
** Shares of oil tanker companies Teekay Tankers TNK.N up 3.4%, International Seaways INSW.N rises 3.7% and DHT DHT.N gains 4.9%
(Reporting by Sumit Saha and Arunima Kumar in Bengaluru)
((Sumit.Saha@thomsonreuters.com;))

