Brent crude oil slipped further below $68 a barrel on Friday after tension eased between the European Union and Iran over the OPEC member’s nuclear program.

Visiting Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari on Thursday underlined here importance of the upcoming neighboring states’ meeting on Iraq due to be held in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on May 3-4.

Tehran’s Interim Friday Prayers leader Seyyed Ahmad Khatami warned the West that Iran’s nuclear issue would not be resolved through bullying and mischief, and further stressed the need for prerequisite-free talks as the only way to solve the case.