SINGAPORE, Aug 25 Reuters Oil prices rose on Thursday on mounting supply tightness concerns amid disruptions to Russian exports, the potential for major producers to cut output, and the partial shutdown of a U.S. refinery.

Brent crude rose 45 cents, or 0.4, to 101.67 a barrel by 0630 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 32 cents, or 0.3, at 95.21 a barrel.

Both crude oil benchmark contracts touched threeweek highs on Wednesday after the Saudi energy minister flagged the possibility that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known as OPEC, will cut production to support prices.

Brent crude oil prices rebounded above the 100barrel mark following Saudi officials showing willingness to defend prices via an OPEC production cut if necessary, Citi analysts said in a note.

Discussions on an agreement on Iran39;s nuclear programme remain stalled, calling into question any resumption of its exports.

Talks between the European Union, the United States and Iran to revive the 2015 nuclear deal are continuing, with Iran saying it had received a response from the United States to the EU39;s final text to resurrect the agreement.

ANZ analysts Daniel Hynes and Soni Kumari said that if a deal eventuates, it will likely weigh on sentiment and lower prices in the short term as the deal raises the prospect of 1 million barrels per day of Iranian oil hitting the market.

Nevertheless, the market will remain tight as the deal will not…