Audio By Carbonatix
Oil prices slipped more than $1 a barrel on Monday as investors took profits ahead of an expected announcement from Washington about imposing more sanctions on Iran that may further disrupt supplies from the Middle East.
Brent crude futures fell $1.22, or 1.29%, to $93.17 by 0035 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $85.86 a barrel, down $1.20, or 1.38%.
Both contracts posted their second weekly gains last week, up more than 5%, as peace talks between the U.S. and Iran hit a stalemate, capping oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world's supply used to transit.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, set to hold a press conference at 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT) on Monday, has threatened to impose "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran. President Donald Trump has also threatened to impose sanctions on Iran's trading partners.
"It is unclear whether U.S. policy to economically isolate Iran will prove effective," Vivek Dhar, a commodities analyst at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, wrote in a note.
"But if the U.S. measures do work as intended, Iran's ability to respond via increased violence becomes a growing risk for energy markets to consider."
Iran has condemned U.S. plans to announce new sanctions even as President Masoud Pezeshkian called for a diplomatic solution.
"The more pragmatic members of the Iranian leadership would prefer to de-escalate, but the hardliners would probably prefer to fight to the bitter end," IG markets analyst Tony Sycamore said.
"I think by the end of this week we will have a good idea which side of the Iranian leadership has the upper hand."
Offers of Iranian crude to Chinese buyers have declined, and prices have jumped as the U.S. blockade has cut Tehran's shipments, according to trade sources.
However, Iran has granted permission for a number of Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait following repeated requests from Baghdad, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday.
Latest Stories
-
NPP MPs summon Afenyo-Markin over Sammy Gyamfi’s allegations
35 seconds -
GNFS responds to bus crash, trailer fire in Greater Accra
3 minutes -
‘Tag NPP with corruption, silence the opposition’ – Afenyo-Markin accuses govt of intimidation strategy
18 minutes -
‘If I speak, BNI will call me’ – Afenyo-Markin alleges intimidation of NPP MPs
32 minutes -
Ghana projects 18,748 jobs from 2025 foreign investments – GIPC
39 minutes -
Middle East tensions put Ghana’s reserves under pressure – BoG Governor
51 minutes -
Government to replace grid-powered streetlights with solar systems nationwide – Agbodza
1 hour -
Falling interest rates could unlock billions in Ghana’s debt markets – Amo Agyapong
1 hour -
Bawumia honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award by AME Zion Church
1 hour -
Invest in the craft, not hype: Ghanaian creator Adnan Saani on why social media alone will not pay
1 hour -
Upper East takes delivery of 28 motorbikes under FSRP
1 hour -
Accountability forum will continue to drive development – Central Regional Minister
1 hour -
Parliament resumes today for five-day sitting amid pending ministerial nominations
1 hour -
50 pick forms to contest 11 NPP executive positions; five eye chairmanship
2 hours -
Getting heard in Parliament currently is difficult – Afenyo-Markin
2 hours