Oil prices sink more than 2% as Trump remarks calm concern about Iran

Oil prices slid more than 2% in early Asian trade on Thursday after US President Donald Trump said killings in Iran’s crackdown on nationwide protests were stopping, tempering concern over military action against Iran and supply disruption. Brent futures were down $1.67, or 2.5%, at $64.85 a barrel at 0109 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude slipped $1.54, or 2.5%, to $60.48 a barrel. Both benchmarks settled more than 1% higher on Wednesday but gave back most gains after Trump’s remarks reduced fear of a potential US attack on Iran. Trump on Wednesday afternoon said he had been told that killings of anti-government protesters in Iran were subsiding and he believed there was no plan for large-scale executions.