Oil Prices Drop as Iran Sanctions Seen Leading to Talks, Not War

Crude oil futures ended the week with losses, as traders bet that tighter U.S. sanctions on Iran will push the two countries toward negotiations rather than military conflict. The market’s expectation of diplomacy, not escalation, weighed on prices. Investors responded by selling off contracts, sending benchmarks lower for the week. Analysts say the prospect of more Iranian oil reaching global markets—if talks succeed—adds further downward pressure on prices. For now, the focus remains on political signals from Washington and Tehran.