The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was set Friday to refer Iran to the UN Security Council over suspected atomic weapons work despite an Iranian threat to retaliate.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in March, rose 12 cents to 64.80 dollars per barrel in electronic deals.

In London, the price of Brent North Sea crude for March delivery increased 41 cents to 63.29 dollars per barrel.

Crude futures "were modestly higher in early trade this (Friday) morning as it corrected some of yesterday's dip on continued concerns about Iran", analysts at the Sucden brokerage said.

They added that "any more concerns about Iran or Nigeria could easily send the market higher again".

New York crude had dropped 1.88 dollars on Thursday as the market shifted attention to an increase in crude stockpiles in the United States, the world's biggest energy consumer.

Crude stocks rose 1.9 million barrels in the week ended January 27 to total 321 million barrels, the US Department of Energy had said Wednesday, sharply outstripping US analysts' expectations of a 383,000-barrel build.