Oil dips on hopes of easing Iran tensions

Published
0

Oil prices were also pressured by a report by industry group American Petroleum Institute, indicating weaker demand in the world's biggest oil-consuming economy. - File photo

SINGAPORE: Oil prices edged lower in Asian trade Wednesday, amid hopes of easing tensions between major producer Iran and the West, but eurozone debt woes continued cast a shadow over the market.

New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate crude for delivery in July, was down 60 cents at $91.25 per barrel while Brent North Sea crude for July shed 62 cents to $107.79 in morning trade.

“Oil has slipped on news that Iran will let UN nuclear inspectors into the country,” said Justin Harper, market strategist at IG Markets Singapore.

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano said that he and Iran's chief nuclear negotiator would “soon” reach an agreement on the UN watchdog probing Iran's suspected weapons activities.

The announcement by Amano came ahead of talks in Baghdad later Wednesday between world powers and Tehran aimed at defusing tensions over the Islamic republic's nuclear ambitions.

The reaction of Western diplomats -- and Israel -- was cool, however.

Israel and much of the West believe Tehran is developing atomic weapons and have imposed sanctions on its financial and oil industries in response.

Iran vehemently rejects the accusations, insisting the programme is for peaceful purposes including cancer treatment.

Dealers are also keeping an eye on the eurozone debt crisis amdi worries Greece could exit the 17-member currency bloc, analysts said.

“The crisis in the euro area has become more serious recently, and it remains the most important source of risk to the global economy,” OECD chief economist Pier Carlo Padoan said in the organisation's latest report released Tuesday.

While the eurozone gained some breathing space at the beginning of the year from the European Central Bank pumping more than a trillion euros into banks, tensions soared in recent weeks after inconclusive elections on May 6 raised the spectre of a Greek exit.

Prices were also pressured by a report by industry group American Petroleum Institute (API) indicating weaker demand in the world's biggest oil-consuming economy.

The official weekly inventory report by the Energy Information Administration is due later Wednesday.

Follow Dawn Business on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Terrorist havens
07 Aug, 2026

Terrorist havens

DESPITE the use of both carrots and sticks by the international community, the Afghan Taliban refuse to cut their...
Mineral wealth
07 Aug, 2026

Mineral wealth

GROWING American interest in Pakistan’s critical minerals is no longer speculative. According to US diplomats,...
Growth denied
07 Aug, 2026

Growth denied

THE Sindh government’s agreement with the World Bank to combine health, nutrition, sanitation, social protection...
Need for dialogue
06 Aug, 2026

Need for dialogue

THE interior minister’s comments at an Islamabad seminar last week have sparked many a conversation about the ...
Bad press
06 Aug, 2026

Bad press

THE government’s move to impose restrictions on international media will not only alienate the foreign press, it...
Automobile concerns
06 Aug, 2026

Automobile concerns

PAKISTAN’S automobile industry is at a critical juncture. Sharp cuts in tariffs on the import of completely built...