Oil prices rose over 1 per cent on Wednesday, driven by new US sanctions on Iranian oil exports, a decline in US crude inventories, and renewed hopes of progress in US-China trade talks. Brent crude climbed $1, or 1.5 per cent, to $68.44 per barrel by 0640 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 99 cents, or 1.6 per cent, to $64.66. The US sanctioned Iranian energy figure Seyed Asadoollah Emamjomeh and his network, accusing them of exporting hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of liquefied petroleum gas and crude oil. The move heightened concerns over global supply. Prices also gained support from American Petroleum Institute (API) data showing a 4.6 million barrel drop in US crude stocks last week, well above analysts' expectations of an 800,000 barrel decline. Investor sentiment improved further after US President Donald Trump softened his tone towards the Federal Reserve and hinted at potential tariff reductions on Chinese imports, raising optimism about easing trade tensions that had weighed on oil demand forecasts. Attribution: Reuters Subediting: M. S. Salama