NEW YORK, Feb 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Shares vacillated and oil prices dropped back down Tuesday as Tehran gave an encouraging response during talks with US officials in Geneva on Iran's nuclear programme, after days of escalating rhetoric from President Donald Trump. Oil prices had earlier risen after Trump ramped up threats towards Iran, a large crude producer, but Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said "a new window of opportunity has opened." West Texas Intermediate was down 0.9 percent at $62.33 per barrel after earlier rising 1.5 percent, while international benchmark Brent North Sea Crude slipped 1.8 percent to $67.42. Wall Street was vacillating earlier in the session but eventually closed marginally higher. European stocks closed in the green with London and Frankfurt adding 0.8 percent, while Tokyo retreated and Chinese markets were again shut for the Lunar New Year.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha February 18, 2026 04:10 UTC