Crude oil prices gain amid US-Iran talks uncertainty; Brent crude at $73 per barrel

Brent crude futures rose 0.69 percent to $73.45 per barrel and US WTI gained 0.91 percent to $70.13 as Iran ruled out direct talks with US officials, raising uncertainty over the Middle East ceasefire. Despite the daily gain, both benchmarks remain under pressure after posting their sharpest quarterly declines since the 2008 financial crisis and 2020 respectively, as the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz eased supply concerns. A Reuters poll showed analysts have lowered 2026 oil price forecasts for the first time since the Iran conflict began.