Oil prices fell below 66 usd a barrel in Asian trading on profit-taking after setting record highs in the past week, but Middle East tensions will sustain the upward trend, dealers said. At 12.20 pm (0420 GMT), New York's main contract, light sweet crude for September delivery was down 57 cents at 65.70 usd from its close of 66.27 usd in US trading overnight. The contract reached a record 67.10 usd on Friday. "I think it's a continuation of the decline yesterday (but) I remain bullish on oil prices," said Dariusz Kowalczyk, an investment strategist at CFC Seymour Securities in Hong Kong. "The rally last week was so strong that sooner or later there will be profit-taking," he said. Kowalcyzk said comments by President George W. Bush that he would not rule out the use of force to halt Iran's nuclear program would help keep crude prices at current levels. "It seems the US is hardening against Iran so this increases geopolitical tension in an oil-rich region," he said, adding there will be a "geopolitical premium" attached to crude prices. Iran is the second largest producer in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries after Saudi Arabia, producing 4.2 mln barrels of oil per day. Bush, in comments aired on Israeli television Friday, refused to rule out the use of force against Iran over its resumption of nuclear activities. New York futures have rocketed by more than 60 pct since August 2004, and more than doubled since August 2003, when they stood at just 30 usd a barrel.