Trump Hints at Iran Talks as US Futures Waver Amid Mideast Tensions

President Donald Trump has signaled a cautious but active diplomatic engagement with Iran, revealing that his administration has been in direct communication with Iranian officials and is considering negotiations despite maintaining the threat of military action. Trump has set a maximum two-week timeline to determine whether to proceed with military intervention, emphasizing this period as a chance for Iran to demonstrate progress toward a resolution. He dismissed European involvement in the negotiations, asserting Iran prefers to deal directly with the U.S. This development has contributed to increased geopolitical uncertainty, which, along with rising oil prices driven by concerns over potential disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz, has negatively impacted U.S. stock futures and market sentiment. Investors remain cautious, with futures for major indices like the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq 100, and S&P 500 declining amid expectations of market volatility influenced by the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. Despite some easing in oil prices and diplomatic overtures, market participants are bracing for further fluctuations as the situation unfolds.