The U.S. and Iran are still negotiating, with President Donald Trump signaling he might avoid a threatened strike even while keeping his military on alert. Iran rejected the pressure, and Brent crude swung near $100 a barrel while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz stayed uneven.
President Donald Trump said Washington was holding talks with Tehran and might not need the large attack it had threatened, even as he kept American forces ready. According to Al Jazeera, he warned that those forces remained "locked and loaded".
Trump said Iran was showing greater seriousness in negotiations but was not yet ready to reach an agreement. He added that he was willing to listen while repeating that Tehran could not develop a nuclear weapon. He also claimed U.S. attacks had severely weakened Iran's military, destroying much of its navy, air force and radar capability — figures that could not be independently verified.
Iran rejects the pressure
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected Washington's threats and said Tehran would not surrender. Meeting Russian and Chinese officials in Kyrgyzstan, he blamed the U.S. for breaking previous agreements and creating insecurity around the Strait of Hormuz.
He also welcomed Moscow's condemnation of U.S. and Israeli military action. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov offered assistance in creating a regional security framework.
Oil and shipping feel the strain
Military tension stayed high. U.S. forces disabled a tanker trying to breach Washington's blockade near Iran, firing into its engine room after the vessel ignored repeated warnings.
As a result, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz stayed uneven. Kpler recorded six confirmed crossings on Thursday, down 60% from the previous day, along a waterway that handled about one-fifth of global energy supplies before the conflict.
Brent crude briefly reached $100 a barrel during the week before easing slightly. Barclays warned that a three-month disruption could send spot prices towards $150, adding to inflation and supply risks.
Regional violence widens
Israeli attacks continued in Lebanon and Gaza, where electricity shortages and declining humanitarian aid have worsened conditions for civilians. Violence also intensified in the occupied West Bank, where four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers were killed near Nablus, after which Israel launched a wider operation and imposed roadblocks.
The risk spread further as Houthi attacks resumed in the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia briefly issued danger alerts for Jazan and Yanbu.
Source: Investing.com
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