Oil prices rose in early trade on Wednesday as investors responded to news that Iran will not be meeting with U.S. envoys, a further strain on the interim ceasefire agreed between the two in the four-month-long war.
Brent futures rose 50 cents or 0.69% to $73.45 a barrel at 1208 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 63 cents, or 0.91%, to $70.13 a barrel.