WTI Stalls Near $86.00 Amid US-Iran Tensions and Inventory Build

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices are holding steady around $86.00 as markets weigh the risks of a potential conflict between the US and Iran against last week's inventory build in the US.

The threat of new economic sanctions from President Donald Trump has sparked concerns about supply disruptions, with TD Securities warning that 'crude flows in the market will remain critically tight.'

Last week, US crude oil inventories rose by more than expected, which may cap the upside for WTI prices. However, TD Securities notes that negotiations on oil exports have been on hold for weeks and a shift towards economic pressure is likely to continue.