Oil prices edge lower as Iran talks extend beyond deadline

By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil futures edged lower on Wednesday amid speculation that a last-minute deal over Iran's nuclear programme would be reached that could allow more Iranian crude into world markets.

Talks between Iran and six world powers to settle a dispute around Tehran's nuclear programme extended beyond a Tuesday deadline, as the parties edged towards a deal but failed to agree on crucial details such as the lifting of U.N. sanctions.

China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, said on Wednesday there was "significant progress in core issues" in talks with Iran.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said a general agreement had been reached over all key aspects of a future deal, TASS news agency quoted him as saying. A diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, later denied that an agreement had been reached.

Efforts to reach a framework deal were scheduled to continue on Wednesday morning in the Swiss city of Lausanne.

Talks had appeared to get bogged down after the United States warned it was ready to abandon them altogether and Iran affirmed its "nuclear rights", with officials cautioning any agreement would probably be fragile and incomplete.

Brent crude for May delivery was down 31 cents at $54.80 (37 pounds) a barrel by 8:23 a.m., after settling down $1.18 on Tuesday. The contract has fallen 8 percent over the last week amid expectations of a nuclear deal.

U.S. crude for May delivery was trading 33 cents lower at $47.27 a barrel, having settled down $1.08.

"Whether or not there is an Iranian nuclear deal, we do not expect a flood of oil into the market as a consequence," head of commodity markets strategy and oil strategy at BNP Paribas (PARIS:BNPP), Harry Tchilinguirian, told Reuters Global Oil Forum.

Iran currently produces around 2.8 million barrels per day (bpd), according to Tchilinguirian, although Western sanctions limit exports to around only around 1 million bpd. The country keeps around 30 million barrels of crude on its fleet of oil tankers.

"Which sanctions will be lifted and the uncertainty in the timing of lifting suggest that Iran will not be in position to significantly add to the current oversupply in the market," he said.

Higher OPEC supply also put pressure on oil prices, after a Reuters survey showed the oil cartel increased supply in March to its highest since October as Iraq's exports rebounded after bad weather and Saudi Arabia pumped at close to record rates.

Higher Libyan exports could also add to a glut on world markets, after the state oil company said Libya's two biggest oil ports, Ras Lanuf and Es Sider, would be able to open once security checks are made.