NEW YORK: Oil prices edged up on Tuesday after the US shot down an Iranian drone approaching a US aircraft carrier and armed boats approached a US-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, stoking concerns that talks aimed at de-escalating US-Iran tensions could be disrupted.
Brent futures rose 90 cents, or 1.4 percent, to USD67.20 per barrel at 1:04 p.m. EST (1804 GMT), while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 99 cents, or 1.6 percent, to USD63.13.
On Monday, both crude benchmarks closed at their lowest since January 26 after dropping more than 4 percent on the day.
The US military shot down an Iranian drone that “aggressively” approached the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, a US official told Reuters on Tuesday.
In the Strait of Hormuz between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, a group of Iranian gunboats approached a US-flagged tanker north of Oman, maritime sources and a security consultancy said on Tuesday.
OPEC members Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq export most of their crude via the strait, mainly to Asia.
Oil prices had slumped on Monday after US President Donald Trump said Iran was “seriously talking” with Washington.
Iran was the third-biggest OPEC crude producer in 2025, according to US Energy Information Administration data.
“Iran’s significance within oil markets extends well beyond its own production profile. The country’s geopolitical weight is rooted in its strategic location, its influence over regional security dynamics, and its capacity to disrupt critical energy infrastructure and transit routes,” said Jorge Leon, senior vice president and head of geopolitical analysis at consultancy Rystad Energy.
Regional power United Arab Emirates urged Iran and the US on Tuesday to use the resumption of nuclear talks this week to resolve a standoff that has led to mutual threats of air strikes.
Russia and India
Earlier on Tuesday, oil prices had gained support as a trade agreement between the US and India raised hopes that global energy demand could increase, while Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine boosted worries Moscow’s oil would remain sanctioned for longer.
Trump’s move to slash tariffs on Indian imports lifted sentiment among exporters and policymakers even as details of the agreement remained scant.
Trump announced a trade deal with India on Monday to cut tariffs to 18% from 50% in exchange for New Delhi halting Russian oil purchases and lowering trade barriers. India is one of the world’s biggest economies and oil importers.
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