Oil rises towards $65 as supply concerns outweigh trade disputes

• Oil rose towards $65 a barrel on Tuesday as OPEC supply cuts and Middle East tensions outweighed the U.S.-China trade dispute that has been dragging down the global economy and oil demand.

OPEC and its allies led by Russia agreed last week to extend their supply-cutting deal until March 2020. Brent has risen almost 20% in 2019 supported by the pact and also tensions in the Middle East, especially concerns about the row over Iran’s nuclear program.

Benchmark Brent crude rose 33 cents to $64.44 a barrel by 1211 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 26 cents to $57.92.

“OPEC and its allies are doing their best to support the market,” said Tamas Varga, an analyst with PVM.

“Oil prices are to hold up reasonably well during coming months or at least they are not to fall out of bed.”

Rising tensions between Iran and the United States have brought the two countries close to conflict. Last month, President Donald Trump called off air strikes at the last minute in retaliation for Iran shooting down a U.S. drone.

The European Union on Tuesday urged Iran to reverse its scaled up uranium enrichment that breaches a nuclear deal it agreed in 2015 with world powers. Washington withdrew from the accord last year and re-imposed sanctions.

Oil also gained support from reports expected to show a drop in U.S. crude inventories.

U.S. crude stockpiles are forecast to fall 3.6 million barrels. The first of this week’s two supply reports is due at 2030 GMT from the American Petroleum Institute, an industry group.

Russian oil output fell close to a three-