The market's surprising resiliency to lost Mideast supplies has delayed the dire impacts initially seen hitting in June — but has also allowed the conflict to fester.

US assertions that a peace deal is imminent and growing evidence of oil market resilience to the Mideast supply shock are exerting downward pressure on prices.

Global oil inventories are being depleted at a record pace, as governments draw down strategic reserves and stored crude to offset lost supply, while U.S. fuel stocks have fallen…