Iran Signals Readiness for US Deal, Pressuring Oil Prices Amid Supply Surplus Concerns

Crude oil prices experienced a notable decline as markets reacted to diplomatic signals from Tehran regarding a potential rapprochement with Washington. Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi expressed Iran's readiness to take all necessary steps to reach a new agreement with the United States. This shift comes as investors closely monitor President Trump's State of the Union address for further clues on foreign policy. Market analysts are particularly concerned about the approximately 400 million barrels of oil currently held in sanctioned tankers. Should a diplomatic resolution be reached, this massive volume could flood global markets and significantly offset existing geopolitical risk premiums. Consequently, both WTI and Brent benchmarks are facing technical pressure from the prospect of a substantial increase in global supply.