Oil Prices Will Stay Strong: Opinion

I wish oil prices were coming down significantly, I really do. More from Daniel Dicker, Senior Contributor OPEC Can't Get Along, And That's GoodWall Street Blew It: The Real Tragedy of the FB IPODicker: Look Offshore for Real Value Real Money Previews Rally Runs Its Course How long can the rip-your-face-apart rally continue to unfold? Protect Yourself from the Spanish Rally If you don't sell high, it may be time to think the unthinkable and look at Spanish banks.

Heller: Ugly Duckling This Editor's Choice piece discusses Harbinger Group, which might make you cringe but also might make you money. Unfortunately, all the risks in oil remain to the upside even as crude oil prices have eased. Over the next several months, I can't see much relief at the gas pump.

Oil has taken a tumble in the last two weeks, dropping mostly because of impending nuclear negotiations with Iran. There is hope the Iranians will abandon their uranium enrichment programs and end the ratcheting tensions in the Middle East and the increasing threats of a supply shortage. It has been this major supply risk and the upcoming EU boycott of Iranian oil that have fueled the oil and gas price run-up and continue to keep prices high.

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And upcoming talks are not all that have moved prices downward. Negative Chinese PMI reports, indications the Federal Reserve is moving farther away from QE3, increasing Spanish bond yields and a replay of Greek political anxiety about austerity are all putting pressure on global stock markets and oil prices as another risk asset. West Texas Intermediate crude prices have dropped almost $8 from late February, from almost $110 a barrel to a little less than $102 on Tuesday.

But the hopes for a continued drop in oil and gas prices are overrated. A Reuters report has Iranian President Ahmedinijad claiming his country can easily withstand a total boycott of Iranian oil exports for more than two years if necessary - not the statement of a leader about to deliver a major concession at upcoming talks. On the other side, Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak appeared on CNN Sunday expressing doubts that sanctions will ever be able to force the Iranians to give up their nuclear aspirations.

The implication of that statement is fairly obvious: If economic sanctions won't get it done, it becomes fairly clear what Israel believes is the ultimate solution: strategic destruction of Iranian nuclear facilities.

10 Stocks Boosting Little Funds to Big ReturnsAnd, there is a real boycott in place to start in July, taking more than 2 million barrels a day of supply off the global market. Providing quality reviews, articles and writings on crude oil, energy and gas online.