US President Trump has told his National Security team that any US military action in Iran to be swift and decisive, NBC News reports citing sources; adds that a sustained war is undesirable

• Trump's advisors have so far not been able to guarantee a quick collapse of Iran's regime. 

President Trump's directive for any military action in Iran to be swift and decisive signals a potentially heightened risk of conflict, which markets may interpret as bearish for equities and bullish for safe-haven assets like gold. The mention of an undesirable sustained war suggests that while immediate action might be considered, the broader implications for prolonged conflict could weigh on market sentiment, particularly impacting energy prices and the dollar's strength against other currencies.