Oil prices fall as US, Iran agree to talks, easing conflict concerns

Impact of US-Iran Talks on Oil Prices

By Katya Golubkova

Market Reactions to the Planned Discussions

TOKYO, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Thursday after the U.S. and Iran agreed to hold talks in Oman on Friday, easing concerns of a potential military conflict between them that could disrupt supply from the key Middle East-producing region.

Concerns Over Oil Supply Disruption

Brent crude futures fell $1, or 1.4%, to $68.47 per barrel at 0152 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude prices fell 91 cents, or also 1.4%, to trade at $64.23.

Global Oil Consumption and Key Routes

Oil prices surged about 3% on Wednesday after a media report suggested the planned talks between the United States and Iran on Friday could collapse. However, later in the day officials from both sides said talks would go ahead on Friday though the topics up for discussion have not been settled.

Tony Sycamore, market analyst with IG, pointed to the uncertainty around the talks as the reason for the swings, noting the price surge on fears of their collapse but they were easing as "these fears have since moderated on reports that the nuclear talks are back on."

Iran is open to discussing its nuclear programme, including uranium enrichment, with Western countries, while the U.S. also wants to include Iran's ballistic missiles, its support for armed proxy groups around the Middle East and its treatment of its own people.

Despite the talks, there are concerns U.S. President Donald Trump will still carry out his threats to strike Iran, the fourth-largest producer among the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, potentially risking a wider confrontation in the oil-rich region.

In addition to the possible disruption of Iranian production in the event of a conflict, there are concerns exports from other Gulf producers could be affected.

About a fifth of the world's total oil consumption passes through the Strait of Hormuz which lies between Oman and Iran. Other OPEC members, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq, export most of their crude via the strait, as well as Iran itself.

While the planned talks are reducing the recent risk premium in prices, the market was supported on Wednesday by data showing declines in oil inventories in the U.S., the world's biggest crude producer and consumer.

U.S. crude stocks and distillate inventories fell while gasoline inventories rose in the week ended January 30 as a winter storm gripped large swathes of the country, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Katya Golubkova in Tokyo; Editing by Jamie Freed and Christian Schmollinger)