SINGAPORE: Oil prices tumbled on Monday as Iran and six world powers closed in on a nuclear deal that would end sanctions on the Islamic Republic and let more Iranian oil on to world markets.
News of a unanimous agreement by European leaders on a bailout loan for Athens, which should allow Greece to stay in the euro zone, helped pare early losses.
Brent crude for August fell $1.89 to a low of $56.84 a barrel before rallying back to around $57.30 by 4.40 a.m. EDT.
U.S. light crude, also known as West Texas Intermediate (WTI), was down $1.15 at $51.59 a barrel.
Iran and six world powers are reportedly on the brink of finding a nuclear deal that would bring sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on Tehran’s nuclear program.
A senior Iranian negotiator said a nuclear deal would be completed but cautioned that there was work to be done and he could not promise the talks would finish on Monday or Tuesday.