US crude falls as market braces for more Iranian oil

US crude oil futures fell in early Asian trade, heading lower after posting the first significant gains for 2016 in the previous session, as the prospect of additional Iranian supply looms over the market.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was down 33 cents at USD 30.87 a barrel at 0103 GMT (2003 EDT). On Thursday the contract rose 72 cents, or 2.4 percent, to settle at USD 31.20. It hit a 12-year low of USD 29.93 earlier this week.

WTI is on track to post a third consecutive weekly loss, down more than 6 percent. The contract is down nearly 18 percent from a 2016 high on January 4.

Brent crude was yet to trade. The global benchmark settled up 72 cents, or 2.4 percent, at USD 31.03 a barrel on Thursday. Earlier in the session, it rose to USD 31.23 after falling to USD 29.73, its weakest since February 2004.

Over the previous eight sessions, Brent had lost about USD 7 a barrel, almost 20 percent.

Western sanctions on Iran are expected to be lifted within days, potentially paving the way for more crude oil exports from the country, under a landmark agreement on Tehran's disputed nuclear program.

Iran has removed the sensitive core of its Arak nuclear reactor and U.N. inspectors will visit the site on Thursday to verify the move crucial to the implementation of the atomic agreement with major powers, state television said on Thursday.

Any additional oil from Iran would add to the glut that has pushed oil prices into a deep slump since the middle of 2014.