{"id":22907,"date":"2026-02-18T11:50:26","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T11:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=22907"},"modified":"2026-02-18T11:50:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T11:50:26","slug":"oil-holds-drop-as-us-and-iran-signal-progress-in-nuclear-talks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=22907","title":{"rendered":"Oil holds drop as US and Iran signal progress in nuclear talks"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Oil held a decline after positive talks between the US and Iran over the OPEC member\u2019s nuclear program, paring crude\u2019s risk premium.<\/p>\n

Global benchnmark Brent was little changed above $67 a barrel after ending almost 2% lower on Tuesday, while West Texas Intermediate was near $62. Tehran said it had reached a \u201cgeneral agreement\u201d with Washington on the terms of a potential deal, while a US official said Iranian negotiators were scheduled to return to Geneva with a new proposal in two weeks.<\/p>\n

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Crude has pushed higher this year as geopolitical concerns, including the tensions over Iran, outweighed warnings that the global market faces a glut that\u2019ll drag down prices. The standoff in the Islamic Republic \u2014 which was rocked by a wave of anti-government protests in January \u2014 has fanned concerns among traders that oil output or vital supply routes such as the Strait of Hormuz could be affected if there were military clashes.<\/p>\n

US Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that talks with Iran went well, but the country has not yet acknowledged President Donald Trump\u2019s red lines.<\/p>\n

The apparent diplomatic progress came despite growing military deployments. Iran said on Tuesday it would close part of the Strait of Hormuz \u2013 the choke point for energy exports from the world\u2019s top oil-producing region \u2013 for several hours due to military drills. The US has sent a second aircraft carrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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  • Brent for April settlement was steady at $67.58 a barrel at 1:25 p.m. in Singapore.<\/li>\n
  • WTI for March delivery was little changed at $62.45 a barrel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Elsewhere, investors were tracking US-brokered negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, which are also taking place in Geneva. Discussions are set to continue on Wednesday, according to an aide to Kyiv\u2019s lead negotiator. Any resolution to Moscow\u2019s invasion of its neighbor may lead to a roll back of sanctions, potentially boosting oil flows to global markets.<\/p>\n

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    Volumes in Asian hours may be lower than usual on Wednesday, with several nations on holiday for the Lunar New Year. These included the trading hub of Singapore and China, the world\u2019s largest oil importer.<\/p>\n

    \u00a9 2026 Bloomberg<\/p>\n

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