Oil Prices Stabilize as US and Iran Offer Conflicting Signals on Negotiations

Oil prices edged higher in early Asian trading, stabilizing after a sharp sell-off in the previous session driven by conflicting signals from the United States and Iran over the prospect of diplomatic negotiations.

Contradictory Diplomatic Messages

The market volatility follows a nearly 5% decline in both major crude benchmarks on Monday. The drop was triggered by remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump, who told reporters that talks with Iran were underway and described them as Tehran's "last chance" to secure a deal. Trump specifically mentioned discussions about "the opening of the strait, having it open literally by tomorrow."

However, Iran publicly contradicted the U.S. president's claims. State media cited foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei, who stated that Iran was not currently in negotiations with the U.S. Baqaei added that Tehran was instead coordinating with Oman on a plan for vessel traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz.

Market Reaction and Outlook

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The conflicting statements left traders cautious, leading to a modest rebound after Monday's steep losses. As of 20:48 ET (00:48 GMT), key benchmarks saw slight gains:

• Brent crude futures for October delivery rose 0.4% to $84.14 per barrel.
• West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for September delivery also gained 0.4% to $80.65 per barrel.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of global oil consumption passes, remains a primary focus for the energy market. Analysts note that oil prices are likely to remain highly sensitive to geopolitical headlines from both Washington and Tehran as investors seek clarity on the potential for de-escalation.

Separately, data released Monday showed that U.S. crude exports fell to 3.66 million barrels per day in July, the lowest level in eight months. The decline was attributed to increased supply from the Middle East following a temporary ceasefire in June, which reduced international demand for American crude.