Trump Rejects Iran Truce Extension Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
US-Iran peace talks suffered a setback after President Donald Trump rejected an extension of the June truce agreement. The memorandum, intended to provide a 60-day window for negotiations, was set to expire on Monday.
Tensions have been escalating in the Middle East, particularly with the Strait of Hormuz under scrutiny. Iranian officials warned that Tehran could escalate tensions if diplomatic efforts fail, while Trump argued that Washington retains leverage through its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
The US dollar's weakness and reduced Federal Reserve rate-hike expectations have supported demand for gold, leading to a 0.94% rise in spot prices to $4,417.14 an ounce. Oil prices also climbed as uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz raised concerns about global supply disruptions, with Brent crude settling at $90.76 a barrel.
Bitcoin rebounded toward $64,000 after investors weighed geopolitical tensions and increasingly crowded long positions in derivatives markets. Bart Melek, TD Securities' global head of commodity strategy, noted that the gold market appears to be pricing in a stagflationary environment.