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Oil holds at 2-week high as Russia, Iran stress support costs

Oil costs hovered near twoweek highs on Monday following 6% gains recently, as geopolitical tensions heightened between western powers and major oil manufacturers Russia and Iran, raising risks of supply disturbance.

Brent crude futures climbed up 13 cents, or 0.2%, to $ 75.30 a barrel by 0115 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate unrefined futures were at $71.38 a barrel, up 14 cents, or 0.2%.

Both contracts recently notched their greatest weekly gains given that late September to reach their highest settlement levels since Nov. 7 after Russia fired a hypersonic rocket at Ukraine in an alerting to the United States and UK following strikes by Kyiv on Russia utilizing U.S. and British weapons.

The recent exchanges suggest the war has entered a new and dangerous stage, raising concerns of interruptions to products, ANZ analysts led by Daniel Hynes stated in a note.

In addition, Iran responded to a resolution passed by the U.N. nuclear guard dog on Thursday by buying steps such as triggering numerous new and sophisticated centrifuges used in enriching uranium.

The IAEA censure and Iran's reaction heightens the possibility that Trump will aim to implement sanctions versus Iran's oil exports when he comes into power, Vivek Dhar, a. commodities strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia said in. a note.

Implemented sanctions might sideline about 1 million barrels. each day of Iran's oil exports, about 1% of worldwide oil supply, he. said.

The Iranian foreign ministry stated on Sunday that it will. hold speak about its disputed nuclear program with three. European powers on Nov. 29.

Investors were also concentrated on rising crude oil need at. China and India, the world's top and third-largest importers,. respectively.

China's unrefined imports rebounded in November as lower costs. drew stockpiling need while Indian refiners increased crude. throughput by 3% on year to 5.04 million bpd in October, buoyed. by fuel exports.

(source: Reuters)