MUMBAI, July 15 -- The rupee extended its slide for the third straight day and settled 9 paise lower at 96.25 against the US dollar on Wednesday, weighed down by heightened tensions in West Asia and a rise in global crude oil prices. However, positive sentiments in the domestic equity markets and a weaker greenback prevented a sharper decline in the local unit, forex traders said. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 96.12 and traded in the range of 96.04-96.35 during the session. It settled at 96.25, down 9 paise from its previous close. The rupee depreciated 48 paise to close at 96.16 against the US dollar on Tuesday, a day after losing 30 paise. On the West Asia front, the US military reimposed a naval blockade o...