A Trump red light for Iran deal: what's at stake for oil and gas

Dubai

IRAN, already struggling to attract investors to its energy industry, may find things tougher still as US President Donald Trump tries to undermine the nuclear deal that eased sanctions on Opec's third-largest crude producer. His efforts won't immediately curb the flow of some 2.3 million barrels of daily Iranian crude exports - more than three times the amount of oil the US has sold abroad over the past year. For investors, however, the risks could be higher. Companies such as Total SA, which in July became the first major Western energy company to sign a production deal with Iran since the 2015 accord, may face new hurdles in contributing to the Persian Gulf country's estimated US$100 billion need for oil and natural gas investment.

How could a US decision affect energy markets?