"Investment funds accelerated fresh buying amid growing concern in the market that the NYMEX light sweet crude futures will likely surpass $70/barrel Tuesday." Said Ovalnext futures analyst Masahiko Sato after May crude futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange settled $1.35/barrel higher at $68.74/barrel Monday.     "There is only bullish news and the market is extremely firm. You would not want to be short heading into Easter with the current uncertainty." Said a broker at Man Financial following record high IPE Brent future prices.     "Our exercises were welcomed by Muslims of the world, and they dismayed our enemies. Since (the exercises) were a message of peace and friendship, we are ready to sign non-aggression pacts with the regional countries." Said Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, Iran defense minister after Iran's decision to sign non-aggression pacts with countries in the region.