Oil Steady as Hormuz Deal Talks Hover Over Shipping Lane

Oil prices were little changed as investors awaited a potential deal to open the Strait of Hormuz, with Brent at $82.13 and WTI at $77.25, down about 9% for the week; while a deal teased by the Trump administration seemed imminent, no announcement had been made, and Iran and Oman were discussing transit routes (inbound traffic through Iranian waters and outbound traffic via Omani waters) as Iran's state media floated a draft plan to restrict Hormuz traffic, potentially banning U.S. and Israeli ships, now under parliamentary review.