
Audio By Carbonatix
Oil prices dipped in early Asian trade on Tuesday as hopes of more peace talks between the US and Iran eased concerns about further disruptions to energy supplies.
The price of global benchmark Brent crude fell by about 1% to $98.40 (£72.85) a barrel, while US-traded oil dropped by 1.7% to $97.40.
President Donald Trump said that Tehran has contacted Washington about a potential agreement.
Earlier, oil prices jumped above $100 a barrel after Trump's order to block Iran's ports, following negotiations between the two sides over the weekend.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Monday, Trump said, "I can tell you we've been called by the other side. They'd like to make a deal very badly."
Separately, the New York Times reported that Iran had proposed suspending uranium enrichment for up to five years, an offer rejected by the US, which insisted on 20 years.
The report, which cited Iranian and US officials, also said Washington and Tehran had traded proposals for suspending Iran's nuclear activity during talks in Pakistan, but remained far from an agreement.
But it added that the discussions suggested there may still be a path to a peace deal, with a possible second round of face-to-face talks.
The BBC has contacted the White House for comment.
Asian stock markets edged higher on Tuesday. The Nikkei 225 index in Japan gained by 2.6% while South Korea's Kospi exchange jumped by more than 3%.
Countries in Asia that are heavily reliant on energy from the Gulf have been hit hard by the fallout of the Iran war.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a key flashpoint of the conflict after Iran retaliated against US-Israeli strikes since 28 February by threatening to attack vessels that try to use it.
Energy prices have surged as nearly a fifth of global oil and gas shipments usually pass through the strait.
US Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Monday that he expected oil prices to peak in the coming weeks as the waterway remains effectively closed.
"We're going to see energy prices high - and maybe even rising - until we get meaningful ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz," Wright told the Semafor World Economy Forum in Washington.
"That'll probably hit the peak oil price at that time. That's probably sometime in the next few weeks."
Latest Stories
-
Villa warned over sportswashing after Visit Rwanda deal
9 minutes -
Man Utd sign Tielemans for £35m from Aston Villa
17 minutes -
U.S. Embassy to suspend most routine consular services for two weeks
42 minutes -
Government to begin final evacuation of 900 Ghanaians from South Africa on July 25
1 hour -
BHIM Band calls for recognition of backing vocalists and bands in Ghana’s music industry
1 hour -
Digital Chamber backs BoG’s Zeepay licence revocation, assures public of payment system stability
1 hour -
Parliament approves £17 million lease extension for Ghana International Bank building in London
1 hour -
GH¢50m bail for Miracles Aboagye not harsh or excessive – Parliament Legal Affairs Committee
2 hours -
Gayina’s Pound of Flesh: George Quaye’s new play explores religious intolerance in Ghana
2 hours -
NPA increases price floor from July 16; Petrol up to GH¢ 13.28 and diesel pegged at GH¢ 14.35
2 hours -
Miracles GH¢50m bail: Go to court for bail variation if conditions are excessive – James Enu
2 hours -
Miracles Aboagye released from EOCO custody amid GH¢55m investigation
2 hours -
GRA Commissioner-General urges businesses to support national clean-up exercise
2 hours -
Empress Neeta: Why your PR isn’t working overnight – the hard truth every artiste needs to hear
3 hours -
Miracles GH¢50m bail: Investigative bodies behaving as if they’re superior to the courts -Suame MP
3 hours