Petroleum prices were steady on Wednesday as concerns a possible resumption in Iranian supply would cause a glut were offset by hopes for stronger U.S. fuel demand after a drop in weekly inventory estimates by the American Petroleum Institute.
Brent crude oil futures for July slid 10 cents to $68.55 U.S. per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for July was at $65.89 a barrel, down 16 cents.
Both benchmarks edged higher on Tuesday, ending at their week-long highs, amid hopes for rising demand from the approach of the northern hemisphere’s summer driving season and lifting of coronavirus restrictions.
U.S. crude oil and fuel inventories fell last week, according to two market sources, citing API figures on Tuesday.
Crude stocks fell by 439,000 barrels in the week ended May 21. The data showed gasoline inventories fell by two million barrels and distillate stocks fell by 5.1 million barrels.
Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei said on Tuesday he was optimistic over Tehran reaching an agreement soon at talks with world powers to revive a 2015 nuclear deal, although Iran’s top negotiator cautioned that serious issues remained.
Indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran have resumed in Vienna this week after Tehran and the U.N. nuclear agency extended a monitoring agreement on the Middle Eastern country’s atomic program.