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
-
Ghana must use gold to reduce overdependence on dollar – Gideon Boako
23 minutes -
Refreshed PMP certification reflects evolving demands of project delivery and the skills employers need
29 minutes -
Iran war reshapes Brics ties but also exposes divisions
57 minutes -
Mahama to oversee handover of right-of-way clearance for Accra-Kumasi Expressway
1 hour -
Moroccan teenager joins 1,000 young people for IFY 2026 Children’s Programme in Russia
1 hour -
ISS cooperation offers lessons for resolving conflicts on earth – Russian cosmonaut
1 hour -
Laboma demolition: 48 Engineer Regiment denies claims of no prior notice
1 hour -
Photos: Young Africans join global delegates in Russia for 2026 IYF
2 hours -
100 young journalists lead coverage of International Festival of Youth in Russia
2 hours -
Business owners, residents pack up belongings amid demolition at Laboma
2 hours -
US Rep. Tom Tiffany says he sustained minor injuries after plane makes emergency landing
2 hours -
Ebola infections top 7,000 in Democratic Republic of Congo, government data show
2 hours -
Critics celebrate Céline Dion’s ‘high-stakes’ comeback show in Paris
2 hours -
New report of attack on Strait of Hormuz shipping fans fears of threats to oil supplies
2 hours -
African delegates join IFY 2026 clean-up, collect 22 cubic metres of waste from Russian lake
2 hours