Oil climbs as U.S.-Iran trade strikes while Trump says negotiations with Tehran underway

APA Corporation's Beryl Alpha oil platform in the North Sea. Courtesy: APA Corporation Oil prices rose Wednesday as investors weighed uncertainty over U.S.-Iran talks with the two countries launching fresh strikes Tuesday, even as President Donald Trump said negotiations with Tehran were ongoing. West Texas Intermediate futures for July delivery gained over 1% to $94.81, while the international benchmark Brent crude for August delivery advanced 0.88% to $96.84 per barrel. U.S. Central Command said Tuesday that it had defeated multiple Iranian ballistic missiles and drones and launched defensive strikes following "attempted attacks" by Iran, signaling an escalation in Mideast tensions. That followed Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying that Washington was still engaged in talks with Iran over a potential deal to halt the conflict, pushing back against Iranian media reports suggesting communications had broken down. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Brent oil prices this year Rubio also told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that as part of those discussions, "there is the prospect" that Iran "could negotiate aspects of their nuclear program." That was contrary to a report by Iran's Fars news agency on Tuesday that said Tehran and Washington had not exchanged messages for several days. State-linked outlet Tasnim had reported Monday that Iranian negotiators would cease indirect communications with the U.S. …