Oil futures held steady Wednesday with U.S. crude trading above $78 per barrel, after President Joe Biden said Iran might refrain from attacking Israel if a cease-fire deal is reached in Gaza.
Biden told reporters Tuesday afternoon his "expectation" is Iran would not strike Israel if a deal is clinched to stop the fighting in Gaza, though he said efforts to broker a cease-fire are "getting hard."
A new round of cease-fire talks are scheduled to begin Thursday in Qatar, though Hamas told Reuters that the militant group does not plan to take part in the negotiations.
Here are Wednesday's energy prices:Iran has vowed to retaliate against Israel after a Hamas leader was assassinated in Tehran two weeks ago.
Israel has put its military on high alert, and the U.S. is dispatching a carrier strike group and guided missile submarine to the region to help defend its ally.
Persons:
Joe Biden, Biden
Organizations:
Reuters
Locations:
Iran, Israel, Gaza, Qatar, Tehran, U.S