Oil prices fell slightly on Friday as investors weighed rising tensions in the Middle East against the possibility of the US easing restrictions on ships carrying oil from sanctioned countries. Brent crude stood at $105.40, a decline of 0.52% while WTI crude was trading at $97.31, down 66 cents, or 0.67%.The dip came after a sharp rise in US crude prices during the previous session. WTI settled more than 3% higher on Thursday, supported by a significant reduction in US crude inventories. Brent, however, finished the session with little change.Efforts to increase supplies have also failed to fully ease market concerns. On Thursday, the International Energy Agency agreed to release more than 20 million barrels of diesel, alongside any oil left over from the record emergency reserve release announced in March. The move was intended to increase availability and bring down soaring prices.Another major factor under consideration is a possible change in US sanctions policy. The Trump administration is discussing whether to lift restrictions on certain vessels in the so-called “shadow fleet”, which has carried oil and petroleum products from Russia, Iran and Venezuela, a US official said on Wednesday, as cited by Reuters. The proposed step is aimed at easing record-high global freight rates.The deliberations follow US President Donald Trump’s temporary lifting of sanctions on Russian diesel fuel. The decision prompted criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, European countries and some Republicans in the US Senate.Developments in the Middle East, meanwhile, continue to put pressure on the market. The intensifying conflict involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis, along with fresh attacks on ships in the region, has provided support to oil prices.Attacks around the waterway have increased over the past 10 days. Iran has said it is intensifying strikes in response to the US blockade of its ports and stricter sanctions imposed last month.The violence also spread to Yemen’s southern city of Aden on Thursday, when the Houthis fired missiles at the presidential palace complex, killing two guards. Separately, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen reported dozens of attacks on Saudi infrastructure as the conflict continued to escalate.
