OPEC+ agreed to stick to the existing pace of gradually easing oil supply curbs, two OPEC+ sources said, as producers balanced expectations of a recovery in demand against a possible increase in Iranian supply

Oil prices rose 1%, bolstered by strong U.S. economic data that offset investors’ concerns about the potential for a rise in Iranian supplies

OPEC+ is likely to stick to the existing pace of gradually easing oil supply curbs at a meeting on June 1, as producers balance expectations of a recovery in demand against a possible increase in Iranian supply

The global oil deficit is now seen at about 1 million barrels per day, Russia’s deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said, days before the OPEC+ top negotiators are to meet

In a monthly report, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said demand will rise by 5.95 million barrels per day (bpd) this year, or 6.6%. The forecast was unchanged from last month

Iran’s exports are rising as talks take place to revive a 2015 nuclear deal which could eventually allow more oil to the market. So far, OPEC and its allies, known as OPEC+, are not concerned by Iran and plan their own output boost from May

The United States imposed fresh Iran-related sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic’s oil sector, including the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum, in Washington’s latest move to increase pressure on Tehran

Venezuela’s state-run PDVSA is preparing to recover a portion of the oil output lost in recent months by boosting crude blending operations at its main producing region, the Orinoco Belt

OPEC has managed to raise crude prices and stabilise the oil market, Iran’s oil minister said. “OPEC’s performance has been successful because the price of oil has risen from $16 in May to around $45 and has stabilized”