𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Oil prices have surged to a near three-week high, with benchmark Brent crude climbing 2 per cent to just under $108 a barrel in early Monday trading, as hopes for peace talks between Iran and the United States were dashed.

This rise, returning prices to levels seen before initial discussions began in early April, follows President Donald Trump’s decision to cancel a negotiating team’s trip to Pakistan, citing a lack of progress with Iran.

Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Mr Trump said: “If they want, we can talk but we’re not sending people.”

He added: “You know, there is a telephone. We have nice, ‌secure lines.”

The development comes despite Mr Trump last week indefinitely extending a ceasefire, agreed on 7 April, which largely halted hostilities that began with joint US and Israeli strikes on 28 February.

However, a lasting resolution remains elusive, and the critical Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for a fifth of global oil supplies, continues to be effectively blocked.

Iranian ‌Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi departed Islamabad after speaking ‌only to ⁠Pakistani officials, but has since ⁠returned to Pakistan despite the ‌absence of US counterparts.

Oil prices fell below $87 a barrel in mid-April when both sides said the waterway was back open for commercial tankers, but the Strait was soon impassable once more as talks faltered, sending crude soaring back up.

Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, said: “The president said negotiators would be wasting their time heading to Pakistan and the lack of progress has hit sentiment at the start of the week.

“But some hopes of a resolution are being kept alive, with reports that Iran has put another proposal on the table which aimed at de-escalating the conflict and potentially seeing the key Strait of Hormuz reopen.

“Details are scant about the offer and patience on both sides is clearly frayed.”

The FTSE 100 Index was 11.64 points lower at 10367.44 in early trade.