{"id":41525,"date":"2026-02-11T10:54:55","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T02:54:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/?p=41525"},"modified":"2026-02-11T10:54:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T02:54:55","slug":"oil-steady-as-traders-weigh-iran-tensions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/analysis\/oil-steady-as-traders-weigh-iran-tensions\/","title":{"rendered":"Oil Steady as Traders Weigh Iran Tensions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"573\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/03\/Oil3-1024x573.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41758\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key Points<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>WTI trades at $64.39 after rising 0.34%, with Brent holding above $69.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>API reports a 13.4M barrel surge in US crude stocks, vs Reuters estimate of +800K.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Crude oil prices steadied on Wednesday, with <strong>WTI last seen at $64.395<\/strong>, up <strong>$0.216 (0.34%)<\/strong>, as traders balanced cautious optimism around US-Iran nuclear talks with the reality of rising inventory levels and renewed military posturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brent futures rose 23 cents to <strong>$69.03<\/strong>, while WTI crude tracked the same gain, supported by hopes that recent diplomacy could ease tensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Iran\u2019s Foreign Ministry confirmed that talks with the US were \u201cserious enough\u201d to continue, following a meeting in Oman last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Iran\u2019s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said there was \u2018no other option but to negotiate,\u2019 referring to nuclear talks with the US. His comments came a day after he said Iran will strike US bases in the Middle East if attacked by American forces <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/m92tRQwv2b\">https:\/\/t.co\/m92tRQwv2b<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QNYaJOY4ue\">pic.twitter.com\/QNYaJOY4ue<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Reuters (@Reuters) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Reuters\/status\/2020565795135225911?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 8, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>However, markets turned cautious after US President Donald Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/NhcMkS0HDf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">hinted at deploying a second aircraft carrier<\/a> to the Middle East should talks stall. The conflicting signals kept oil markets on edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Rising Inventories Cast a Shadow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The latest <strong>API report<\/strong> threw a curveball into an otherwise constructive outlook. US crude inventories reportedly surged by <strong>13.4 million barrels<\/strong> in the week ending 6 February\u2014far above the <strong>800,000 barrel<\/strong> build <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/energy\/oil-holds-steady-usiran-tensions-provide-support-2026-02-11\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">forecasted by Reuters<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This discrepancy has raised eyebrows, especially ahead of the official <strong>EIA<\/strong> figures due Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, distillate and gasoline stocks are expected to have declined by <strong>1.3 million barrels<\/strong> and <strong>400,000 barrels<\/strong>, respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries dropped to a six-month low in January, allowing the Kremlin to increase fuel supplies to the domestic market and resume gasoline exports <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pFYomeXh1X\">https:\/\/t.co\/pFYomeXh1X<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Bloomberg (@business) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/business\/status\/2018694061025018052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 3, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If confirmed, this could help offset some bearish sentiment stemming from the crude build, but the sheer size of the inventory jump remains a concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Technical Analysis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Crude Oil (<strong>CL-OIL<\/strong>) is currently trading at <strong>$64.395<\/strong>, up <strong>0.216 (+0.34%)<\/strong>, continuing its steady upward momentum from the recent low of <strong>$54.874<\/strong> recorded in mid-December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The recovery has been supported by a consistent climb along the moving averages, with price now sitting above all key indicators: <strong>MA5 ($63.91)<\/strong>, <strong>MA10 ($64.14)<\/strong>, <strong>MA20 ($62.35)<\/strong>, and <strong>MA30 ($61.07)<\/strong>. This alignment confirms a short-term bullish trend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/03\/1_image-13-1024x474.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41526\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Since forming a double-bottom near the end of 2023, oil has rallied impressively, peaking at <strong>$66.465<\/strong> before consolidating in a tight range between <strong>$63.80\u2013$65.50<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recent candles suggest the formation of a flag or pennant, typically a continuation pattern in technical analysis. Volume has cooled slightly but remains supportive, while the slope of the MA lines still points upward, indicating strong underlying momentum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A breakout above <strong>$66.50<\/strong> could open the way toward <strong>$67.41<\/strong> and higher, while a failure to hold above <strong>$63.50<\/strong> may trigger a pullback toward the <strong>$61.00\u2013$62.00<\/strong> support zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, the bulls remain in control for now, though a sustained catalyst will be needed to break out of this consolidation range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Market Implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Oil remains caught between bullish technical momentum and bearish short-term supply pressures. Traders are now looking to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/petroleum\/gasdiesel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">upcoming EIA inventory<\/a> report for confirmation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A confirmed build of over 10 million barrels would likely cap further upside for now, especially if military tensions cool temporarily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, if distillate and gasoline drawdowns are deeper than expected, it may cushion any bearish crude surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Learn more about trading <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/energies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Energies<\/a> on VT Markets <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/Insights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Crude holds near $64 as diplomacy wavers; US inventory build and carrier threats add to price uncertainty. | VT Markets<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":41758,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[5,66],"class_list":["post-41525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-analysis","tag-commodities","tag-oil"],"acf":{"acf_article_selection_author":""},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41525"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41525\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41758"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtmarkets.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}