Crude oil futures are in a stalemate, with US tariffs and sanctions influencing market trends.

The price movement of crude oil futures is nearly flat. On one hand, the imminent threat of U.S. trade tariffs poses a risk; on the other hand, the supply concerns arising from U.S. sanctions on Iranian and Venezuelan oil balance each other out. Dennis Kessler, an analyst at the U.S. Boral Financial Group, noted in a report that the futures market is trying to maintain the $2 rise per barrel driven by U.S. sanctions this week. He stated that the May contract for West Texas Intermediate crude oil is testing the resistance level near the 50-day and 200-day MA, approximately $70.09 and $70.50 per barrel, respectively. If it can effectively close above this resistance level, it will shift the long-term trend back to long positions, with a target price pointing to the $73 area.