Doha: Oil prices settled lower on Wednesday following the announcement of a new round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, scheduled to take place later this week. Brent crude futures fell by 47 cents, or 0.7%, to settle at $65.30 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude declined by 46 cents, or 0.7%, to $61.57 per barrel.
According to Qatar News Agency, the decline comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts that could potentially lead to an easing of sanctions on Iranian oil exports, increasing global supply. Earlier in the day, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a surprise build in crude oil inventories, adding further downward pressure on prices, as rising stockpiles signal weaker-than-expected demand in the world’s largest oil consumer.