The price of Brent Crude fell by 1.3% to $95 per barrel amid ongoing talks to restore the nuclear deal in Iran.
US West Texas Intermediate, on the other hand, fell $1.2 per cent to $89.51.
The agreement is expected to clear the way for Iran to boost its crude exports in a tight market.
The European Union on Monday put forward a “final” text to revive the deal. A senior EU official said a final decision on the proposal, which needs U.S. and Iranian approval, was expected within “very, very few weeks”.
“I’m not sure traders are particularly hopeful considering how long it’s taken to get to this point and with there still reportedly being points of contention,” said Craig Erlam of brokerage OANDA.
Talks have dragged on for months without a deal. Still, Iran’s crude exports, according to tanker trackers, are at least 1 million barrels per day below their rate in 2018 when then U.S. President Donald Trump exited the nuclear agreement, so an agreement could allow a sizeable boost in supply.
Oil soared earlier in the year as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine added to supply concerns, with Brent hitting $139 in March, close to its all-time high, in March. The concern about the economic slowdown has since been weighed.
Brent fell as low as $92.78 on Friday, its lowest since February, as the Bank of England’s warning on Thursday of a drawn-out downturn intensified fears of slowing fuel use.
In another bearish sign, China’s crude oil imports in July fell 9.5% from a year earlier, customs data showed. China is the world’s largest crude importer.
