Oil prices set for second weekly drop as Trump to stay with Iran blockade

Résumé détaillé

Brent futures were little changed, down 1 cent at $95.41 a barrel at ‌0242 GMT while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) declined by 20 cents, or 0.25%, to $88.52 a barrel

Despite the swings in prices amid the inconclusive war, Brent is set for a 2.4% drop this week, after plunging 16% the previous week

Oil prices were mixed on Friday, but set for their second weekly decline, as the US plans to continue its Iranian blockade, reducing the chance ​of renewed large-scale fighting that could disrupt Middle East supplies, though attacks ​on shipping remain a danger.

Brent futures were little changed, down 1 cent at $95.41 a barrel at ‌0242 GMT. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) declined by 20 cents, or 0.25%, to $88.52 a barrel.

Friday's declines reversed two days of gains amid a volatile trading week with earlier hopes for a rapprochement of the US-Israel war against Iran, now in its ninth month, offset by strikes on Saudi Arabian infrastructure by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis and attacks on tankers transporting crude out of the Gulf.

Despite the swings in prices amid the inconclusive war, Brent is set for a 2.4% drop this week, after plunging 16% the previous week, while WTI is set for a 2.5% decline, after dropping 13% previously.

Prices slipped on Friday after US President Donald Trump said on Truth Social a deal with Iran ‌was not necessary to end the war, indicating he will stick with the blockade on oil shipments and trade and economic sanctions.

The overall decline in prices over the past two weeks reflects a good assessment of the risks to the market, said Chris Brankin, global advisor for Melbourne-based brokerage MiTrade.

"I think the oil market is priced to perfection at this point," he said, adding that prices have bounced back a bit but without much conviction on the part of traders, which shows they are following closely ​what is happening in the Middle East.

Despite the easing prices, risks remain for oil shipments out of the Strait ‌of Hormuz, the key waterway for crude exports from the main Middle East producers.

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