Trump to address on Iran tonight: President to speak Markets

President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver a prime-time address on April 1, 2026, to provide an update on the conflict with Iran; the White House set the briefing for 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time and called it an “important update.”

The timing follows a social media post by the president claiming Iran had requested a ceasefire — a claim Tehran denied as “false and baseless.” The White House provided limited advance detail, while Iranian officials publicly rejected the ceasefire report, leaving a degree of uncertainty about ongoing indirect talks and intermediary communications.

Markets reacted to the headlines with oil prices easing toward roughly $100 per barrel and global equity indices showing tentative gains as traders priced in the possibility of de-escalation; in the United States retail gasoline averages exceeded $4 per gallon, underscoring the conflict’s immediate consumer impact. Energy-sector volatility is translating into broader risk repricing across commodities and equities.

The address comes as U.S. and Israeli operations against Iranian facilities continue and as the U.S. has moved additional naval and ground assets toward the region, raising the strategic stakes around the Strait of Hormuz. Transatlantic alliances and NATO cooperation have come under strain amid differing views on engagement, adding a political layer to market risk.

Market strategists say the speech is likely to determine near-term sentiment: an announcement of a ceasefire framework or drawdown timeline would likely soften oil and lift equities, while an escalation or vagueness could prompt renewed risk-off flows and safe-haven bids. Investors are watching oil benchmarks and major equity indexes for confirmation of any sustained trend once the president’s remarks are delivered.