LONDON (Reuters) - Oil fell $1.50 to below $70 a barrel after U.S. aircraft killed al Qaeda's Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi on Thursday, raising faint hopes for a let-up in attacks on Iraq's wrecked oil industry.
OPEC member Iran's willingness to talk with opponents of its nuclear program to "solve misunderstandings" was another factor pushing oil away from its $75.35 a barrel record high hit in April, market participants said.
There was also growing evidence that persistent high energy costs were feeding inflation in the United States and other big importers, forcing up interest rates and hurting demand for oil.
U.S. oil <CLc1> was down $1.47 at $69.35, its lowest since May 22, at 1600 GMT. London Brent crude <LCOc1> was down $1.12 at $68.07.
Chaos in Iraq and concern that the world's fourth biggest oil exporter Iran could turn off the taps in its dispute with the West have added impetus to a demand-driven rally that has taken oil to its highest level in real terms for 25 years.
Analysts cautioned against reading too much into the killing of Zarqawi, who masterminded the death of hundreds in bombings. He claimed responsibility for a foiled suicide boat attack on Iraq's vital Basra oil terminal in April 2004.
Al Qaeda in Iraq vowed on Thursday to fight on.
"The end of Zarqawi will not be the end of threats to oil exports in Iraq," said Mustafa Alani, an Iraq expert at the Gulf Research Council in Dubai ...