Crude oil futures settled at $96.02, gaining $2.26, or 2.41%, as buyers remained firmly in control throughout the session. Prices traded in a wide range, reaching a high of $97.00 and a low of $93.45, but the overall trend remained higher as bullish momentum continued to build.The technical foundation for today's rally was established yesterday when crude oil found willing buyers near its 100-hour moving average before rebounding sharply and reclaiming its 200-hour moving average. Since moving back above that longer-term barometer, the price has remained comfortably supported, signaling that buyers have regained the near-term advantage.Today's advance also carried crude above the May 26 corrective high at $94.71, an important technical hurdle. Although prices briefly dipped back to $94.33 after the breakout, sellers were unable to sustain momentum below the former resistance level. The quick recovery and ability to remain above $94.71 throughout the remainder of the session reinforce that area as a key support level going forward.With the breakout confirmed, traders are now turning their attention to the next major upside targets. The first comes at the 50% retracement of the decline from the April 7 high, which is located at $98.30. A move above that level would further strengthen the bullish case and bring the psychologically important $100.00 level into focus.Beyond $100, traders will be watching a downward-sloping trendline that currently intersects near $101.00 on the hourly chart. That trendline represents the next significant technical hurdle and could attract profit-taking or renewed selling interest. However, as long as crude oil remains above the former breakout level at $94.71 and above its key hourly moving averages, the technical bias remains tilted to the upside, with buyers maintaining control of the near-term trend.Fundamentally, traders reacted to another day of deteriorating Middle East diplomacy and rising geopolitical risks. Hopes for a breakthrough in U.S.-Iran peace negotiations faded as talks remained stalled, with both sides publicly disputing whether meaningful discussions are even taking place. Iran has continued to demand broader concessions tied to regional conflicts, while the U.S. and its allies have maintained pressure on Tehran regarding its nuclear program and military activities. At the same time, military tensions escalated across the Gulf region. Reports of Iranian missile and drone attacks, U.S. retaliatory strikes, and continued hostilities involving Hezbollah in Lebanon reinforced concerns that the conflict could broaden further. The ongoing uncertainty has also delayed hopes for a normalization of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route that normally handles roughly one-fifth of global oil trade. This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.