Brent crude futures rose toward $103 per barrel on Thursday, recovering part of the previous session’s losses amid conflicting statements from the US and Iran on efforts to end the conflict that has roiled global energy markets. Iran said it has no intention of entering talks with the US and would reject a proposed ceasefire, instead outlining its own conditions including sovereign control over the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the White House maintained that peace efforts are ongoing, with Washington reportedly sending a 15-point proposal to Iran via Pakistan aimed at resolving the conflict and reopening the critical waterway. The near-closure of Hormuz has severely disrupted global oil flows, resulting in the loss of millions of barrels of daily supply. While some vessels continue to transit under Iranian protection, US allies in the Asia-Pacific, including South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines, are grappling with a worsening fuel shortage.