EIA: US crude oil inventories at Cushing, Oklahoma rose 2.266 mln barrels in the week to Sep 18; prior week change -342k barrels.

Iranian media reported Foreign Minister Alaghezi’s interaction with one of Trump’s negotiators, Witkoff, was not coordinated with or approved by relevant decision-making bodies, including the Supreme National Security Council, and claims the action was coordinated are false. SNSC Secretary Rezaei said in a TV interview the original plan was to relay Iran’s seven conditions via intermediaries, implying Alaghezi lacked authorization to deal directly with Witkoff. Alaghezi is being asked to explain the allegedly improper contact to relevant bodies and to the Iranian public.

Hong Kong stocks closed lower: Hang Seng Index down 1.01% and Hang Seng TECH Index down 1.33%; tech names retreated, with Alibaba (09988.HK) sliding 4.36%.