US Launches Fresh Airstrikes on Iran; US Stock Futures Dip as Trump Says 'Not Sure I Want to Negotiate'

According to CNBC, the US Central Command announced on Wednesday afternoon (8th) that it had launched a new round of airstrikes on Iran in response to Tehran's attacks on commercial ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz. US stock futures edged lower in after-hours trading, following earlier weakness in US equities driven by escalating US-Iran tensions and a surge in oil prices.

At the time of reporting, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 74 points, or about 0.1%. S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures also fell by 0.1%.

The US Central Command posted on X (formerly Twitter): 'The US is holding Iran accountable for its recent unprovoked attacks on commercial vessels and civilian crews freely navigating vital international waterways.'

Following the announcement, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures jumped 6% in after-hours trading.

Hours before the airstrikes, President Trump indicated he may no longer be interested in reaching a deal with Iran. Earlier that day, he declared that the temporary ceasefire agreement reached last month between the US and Iran had 'ended' due to renewed hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz, and he did not rule out further military strikes.

Speaking at a press conference during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump said, 'I'm not sure I want to make a deal with them anymore.'

He added, 'We can keep playing these games, but I'm not sure I want to make a deal. Let's just end it.'

When asked by media why his stance toward Iran's leadership had shifted so drastically in a short time—having praised Iranian officials just a month earlier as 'smart,' 'very rational,' and 'good negotiators,' while recently calling them 'scum' and 'sick people'—Trump replied, 'Because I've really gotten to know them.'

He added that he still considers the current Iranian leadership more rational than the previous leadership killed by the US at the start of the war on February 28. 'But from their actions over the past one or two weeks, they haven't done anything good for their people. Most importantly, I've truly come to understand them.'

Mason Mendez, analyst at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, said: 'The market's assumption that Persian Gulf oil exports would quickly return to normal is now being challenged. With global oil inventories and spare production capacity already low, even if negotiations resume, geopolitical risk premiums could continue to push oil prices higher if tensions escalate further.'

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump stated that the US-Iran ceasefire agreement had 'ended' amid renewed conflict in the Middle East.

According to the US Central Command and the Joint Maritime Information Center, Iran attacked three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters on Tuesday.

In response, the US revoked the sanctions exemption on Iranian oil sales, which had been part of the temporary ceasefire agreement reached last month.

Subsequently, the US military announced it had conducted dozens of retaliatory airstrikes on Iranian military facilities and small naval vessels.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei posted on X on Wednesday afternoon, accusing the US of violating the agreement terms. He claimed the agreement explicitly stated that Iran was responsible for 'determining vessel passage arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz.'

Baqaei stated: 'The US has challenged this clause and has effectively undermined the agreement framework through unilateral actions and aggressive attacks on Iran.' He emphasized: 'The Islamic Republic of Iran will firmly safeguard its national interests and exercise its sovereignty.'

Trump said on Wednesday regarding Iran: 'I don't want to deal with them anymore.' He added that attempting to negotiate with Iran was 'a waste of time,' and 'as far as I'm concerned, the ceasefire is over.'