Trump urges Iranian negotiators to 'get serious' before it's too late

President Donald Trump publicly urged Iranian negotiators to "get serious soon, before it is too late," and announced a five‑day extension of a deadline tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while saying U.S. envoys had held constructive discussions. The remarks injected fresh volatility into global markets as Tehran rejected that direct talks had taken place.

According to U.S. officials and Trump's comments, envoys including businessman Steve Witkoff and former adviser Jared Kushner were involved in back‑channel contacts that Washington described as "very strong." Iranian officials, including parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, posted on social platforms that no negotiations with the U.S. had occurred, creating a public contradiction that traders and analysts rapidly priced into risk assets.

Markets reacted immediately: optimism that the conflict could de‑escalate briefly pushed energy and equity markets one way, only for oil prices and stock indices to reverse as denial and continued regional attacks reinforced geopolitical risk. AP reporting showed the S&P 500 retracing gains after initially rising, while Brent and U.S. crude swung sharply as investors reassessed the odds of prolonged disruption to Gulf oil supplies. Rising Treasury yields during the session further complicated the market picture.

The background to the latest tensions includes Trump’s earlier 48‑hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on power plants, a threat he publicly delayed. The strait historically carries roughly one‑fifth of traded oil volumes, meaning any sustained closure or strikes on energy infrastructure would have outsized effects on global energy prices and inflationary pressures. That strategic context helps explain why even tentative diplomatic signals from Washington can swing commodity and financial markets so markedly.

Looking ahead, market watchers say volatility is likely to persist until independent verification of diplomatic contacts emerges and any concrete steps to reopen shipping lanes are observed. Analysts recommend that investors monitor official confirmations from mediating states, signaled changes in Iranian public posture, and near‑term oil inventory and shipping data. Short‑term hedging in energy exposure and cautious positioning in risk assets are among the strategies market participants cite as prudent while uncertainty remains elevated.