Oil Risk Flares in Iran Nuclear Talks Amid Unrest in Iraq

Targeting Iranian crude exports to force cuts in the nation’s nuclear program is becoming a riskier strategy for oil markets as violence erupts in neighboring Iraq and supply disruptions persist in Libya.

Negotiators from the U.S., Russia, China, Germany, France and the U.K. return to talks with Iranian officials in Vienna today to discuss a deal that would lift sanctions on energy, banking, shipping and other areas of trade in return for Iran ensuring its nuclear program is peaceful. Last year, Iran agreed to scale back the program and got limited relief from bans on petrochemicals, gold and auto trade.