Brent Holds Three-Day Advance
Brent crude futures held above $101 per barrel on Thursday after rising for three straight sessions, as diplomatic efforts between the US and Iran showed little progress and the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed. Tehran continues to assert control over the waterway, restricting nearly all international traffic and reportedly firing on commercial vessels this week. At the same time, the US has sustained its blockade of Iranian ports to intensify pressure on the Islamic Republic, a move Tehran has denounced as a breach of the ceasefire. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump stated that the current truce would remain in place indefinitely as Washington awaits a revised peace proposal from Iran, although Tehran has indicated it does not intend to engage in talks in the near term. On the supply side, EIA data revealed declines in US inventories across key refined products, pointing to solid demand from both domestic consumption and export markets.