Arabic version: انخفاض أسعار النفط مع ادعاء ترامب التقدم في المفاوضات مع إيران
According to BBC News,
Oil prices have fallen after US President Donald Trump said negotiations to end the war were progressing, while Iranian officials dismissed claims of such talks as “fake news.” Brent crude fell by 5% to steady just under $100 (£74.62) a barrel on Wednesday. Trump said on Tuesday that talks to end the war were happening “now” and that the people the US were in discussions with “want to make a deal so badly” – a claim disputed by Iranian officials.
Tehran officials dismissed claims of such talks as “fake news,” with a Foreign Ministry spokesman saying on Tuesday that “no one can trust US diplomacy.” The spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, said in an interview with India Today: “Can anyone believe their claims of diplomacy or mediation are credible when they started this war and continue attacking us?” Trump said Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were involved in the discussions to end the war. The president added that the US-Israeli strikes on Tehran have led to “regime change,” repeating his claim that Iranian leaders have agreed that they will never have a nuclear weapon.
But Tehran has previously rejected claims that it had been in contact with the US, calling it an attempt to manipulate markets. Reports from various media outlets suggest that the US has handed over a 15-point plan to Iran, citing unnamed sources. Channel 12 said the US’ demands included the Strait of Hormuz being opened and that it would be recognized as a free maritime zone. It also detailed what Iran would receive if it accepted the plan, including the removal of sanctions.
In a message posted by its mission to the United Nations (UN), Iran said “non-hostile vessels” will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, provided they coordinate with “the competent Iranian authorities.” This statement came after some countries appeared to have negotiated safe passage for their vessels despite Tehran threatening to target ships that tried to use the channel. Meanwhile, Iran and Israel continue to exchange missile strikes across the Middle East.
Major stock exchanges in the Asia Pacific gained in morning trade as investors weighed developments in the Middle East. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s Kospi indexes each rose by more than 2%. Both countries are heavily reliant on oil that passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Even after the latest falls, oil prices remain much higher than before the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on 28 February. Governments around the world have announced measures aimed at easing the impact of rising oil prices on their economies, while the heads of some of the world’s biggest companies have warned about the potential implications of the war.
