Oil rose while Asian equities firmed Monday as a surge in artificial intelligence-linked stocks helped offset uncertainty over US-Iran talks.Gains in tech-heavy markets drove investor optimism, despite uncertainty driven by US-Iran negotiations to end the war that has roiled global energy markets since February.
Iran's chief negotiator warned Sunday that Tehran would not trust Washington or agree to any deal unless its rights were fully secured, underlining the gap between the two sides as talks drag on.
Reports that US President Donald Trump had sent back a tougher proposal have further complicated negotiations, raising the risk of delays to any agreement to formally end the war and reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of global crude transits in peacetime.
While both sides continue to exchange proposals, key sticking points remain, including Iran's nuclear programme, demands for sanctions relief and the future of shipping through the vital waterway.
The stifled progress has left markets sensitive to developments, with oil prices edging higher as uncertainty around supply flows continue.
