FRANKFURT, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday kept key interest rates unchanged as heightened geopolitical tensions weigh on the outlook of inflation and economy in the euro area.

File photo: AFP

The interest rates on the deposit facility, through which the central bank steers its monetary policy, remains unchanged at 2 percent.

"The war in the Middle East has made the outlook significantly more uncertain, creating upside risks for inflation and downside risks for economic growth," said the ECB in a press release.

The United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, disrupting global shipping, sending oil prices soaring and shaking the global economy.

European gas and oil prices rose sharply in early trading on Thursday. The Dutch TTF benchmark, a key reference for European gas supply contracts, surged more than 30 percent to 70.7 euros (about 76.8 U.S. dollars) per megawatt-hour at the open, before easing to around 67 euros per megawatt-hour. The price has more than doubled from around 32 euros megawatt-hour before the conflict began.

Oil prices also moved higher. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose to above 116 dollars per barrel in early trading.

According to the latest projections published by the ECB, inflation expectations have been revised up and economic growth expectations have been lowered especially for 2026, "reflecting the global effects of the war on commodity markets, real incomes and confidence."

Euro area inflation is projected to average 2.6 percent in 2026, while economic growth for this year is expected stand at 0.9 percent, the ECB said.