Pakistan, Feb. 22 -- Brent crude oil prices closed higher on Friday after late-session buying driven by geopolitical concerns, ending the week with strong gains. Traders reacted to renewed uncertainty surrounding potential US military action and tensions with Iran. As a result, short-covering pushed prices upward near the close of trading. The market also recorded a weekly increase of more than five percent.

Brent settled at $71.76 per barrel, rising 10 cents, while West Texas Intermediate crude oil ended at $66.39 per barrel, slipping slightly by 4 cents. Throughout most of the session, both benchmarks traded lower as investors waited for developments in US-Iran relations. However, late buying activity reversed earlier losses. Consequen...