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Donald Trump highlighted the possibility of a negotiated conclusion to the US-Israel conflict involving Iran, deferring anticipated assaults on Tehran’s energy facilities and calming financial markets.
This apparent shift by the US president, following almost a month of hostilities, occurred as the White House faces increasing pressure to discover an exit from the contention, largely due to escalating oil prices and insufficient public backing from Americans.
On Monday, equities and bonds saw a recovery subsequent to Trump’s remarks, reversing earlier declines, while crude oil prices decreased. The prominent Stoxx Europe 600 index rose by 0.6 percent, having initially fallen by over 2 percent in early trading. Brent crude’s value dipped from approximately $113 per barrel to a nadir of $96.
Nevertheless, significant uncertainty persists regarding Trump’s approach and Tehran’s readiness to engage. While he retracted his immediate threat to target Iranian energy infrastructure, Trump issued a new ultimatum to the nation’s leadership, granting them a five-day window to achieve an accord.
“Iran has one final chance to cease its provocations against America and our allies, and we trust they will seize it,” Trump declared. “Regardless, America and the entire world are soon to become considerably safer.”
However, contrary to his statements, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, expressed doubt about the potential for discussions, indicating on X that, in actuality, “no negotiations have taken place with the US.”
Ghalibaf, who has emerged as a pivotal figure in Tehran after high-ranking officials were killed in US and Israeli attacks, further asserted that Iran’s “populace demands the complete and humiliating retribution for the aggressors. All officials resolutely support their Leader and people until this objective is accomplished.”
Throughout the duration of the conflict, Trump has fluctuated between signaling an imminent cessation of US strikes on Iran and menacing an even more intense military intervention, including the deployment of American ground troops.
Earlier in the day, Trump mentioned that Steve Witkoff, his special envoy, and Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, had been in communication with senior Iranian officials to endeavor to forge an agreement to end the war, effectively recommencing discussions that were disrupted by the initiation of the US and Israeli offensive on February 28.
“If things progress favorably, we’re going to resolve . . . this. Otherwise, we’ll simply continue our relentless bombing,” the US president conveyed to journalists.
Should a pact be reached, it could potentially facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the critical maritime passage whose closure has unsettled global energy markets. Trump proposed that in any agreement, the US would jointly oversee the strait with Iran, a proposition unlikely to be deemed acceptable by Tehran.
Yet, even as Trump strived to depict a peace settlement with Iran as a plausible outcome in the coming days, additional US forces, including thousands of US Marines, were en route to the region.
Approximately 2,200 marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit were travelling from Japan aboard the USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault vessel optimized for aerial operations. Its arrival in the Middle East is anticipated by the end of this week.
The Pentagon has also directed the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, comprising three ships led by the USS Boxer, another amphibious assault vessel from California, to the area. These warships are transporting an additional 4,500 troops, including another 2,200 marines in the 11th MEU, and their journey is expected to span three to four weeks.
The US currently maintains around 50,000 troops in the Middle East — once the marines are deployed, this figure will approach 60,000.