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Oil Rebounds From a Month Low as Iran and the U.S. Trade Strikes, Raising Doubts a Peace Deal is Near

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Oil rose off a month low early on Thursday as the United States and Iran traded strikes, a threat to peace talks to end a war that is entering its fourth month and produced the largest-every energy supply shock.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil for July delivery was last seen up US$2.78 to US$91.46 per barrel, rising off the lowest since April 20. July Brent oil was up US$2.85 to US$91.46.

The rise comes on fresh hostilities in the Persian Gulf. The Wall Street Journal reported U.S. forces attacked a drone-control base in Iran and shot down Iranian drones, while Kuwait intercepted an Iranian missile and Iran attacked commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf.

Despite the fighting, the Journal said U.S. officials expect a strained ceasefire between the two countries to stay in place while peace talks in Qatar continue.

Oil prices have climbed by half since Iran blockaded the Strait of Homuz on the Feb. 28 start to the war, blocking much of the 20% of daily oil demand supplied by Persian Gulf nations.

"Brent crude spiked ... after renewed US attacks near the Strait of Hormuz and retaliatory IRGC strikes targeting US bases, underscoring the limited prospect for a near-term peace deal as the US and Iran remained far apart on steps needed to reopen the vital waterway," Saxo Bank noted.

Falling U.S. oil inventories are also offering support to oil prices. In its weekly survey, the American Petroleum Institute reported U.S. oil stocks fell by 2.8-million barrels last week, the sixth-straight weekly draw. The Energy Information Administration will release official inventory data later on Thursday.

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