Ammon News - Oil prices tumbled 4% on Monday after the U.S. ‌and Iran paused strikes over the weekend after two weeks of attacks, raising hopes of a diplomatic solution that would de-escalate the conflict and allow shipping to resume in the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude futures fell $3.96, or 4.1%, to $92.82 by 0329 ​GMT after briefly slipping under the key support level of $90 earlier in the session.

U.S. West ​Texas Intermediate crude was at $85.29 a barrel, down $4.02, or 4.5%.

Both contracts are trading at ⁠their lowest levels in nearly a week after rising for the past three weeks.

Brent had reached $100 per barrel ​as the conflict, which reduced oil shipments via the Strait of Hormuz, spilled over to the Red Sea, hindering ​exports from the world's top exporter, Saudi Arabia, via the Bab el-Mandeb strait to Asia.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, told "Fox News Sunday" and other U.S. media that President Donald Trump had decided to pause U.S. attacks to allow more ​time for diplomacy.

"Oil prices fell sharply in early trading as the U.S. and Iran refrained from further military ​action, offering the first tangible signs of a potential de-escalation in tensions," said ING analysts in a client note.

"The price ‌action in ⁠oil this morning clearly reflects the market's desperation for positive news."

Despite the pause in attacks, fewer than 10 commodity vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz daily during the weekend, shipping data from Kpler showed.


Reuters