US President Trump is leaning towards striking Iran to punish the regime for killing protesters, but hasn't made a final decision and is exploring Iranian proposals for negotiations, a White House official with direct knowledge told Axios

Newsquawk Staff · 12 Jan 2026, 21:37 UTC

US President Trump is leaning towards striking Iran to punish the regime for killing protesters, but hasn't made a final decision and is exploring Iranian proposals for negotiations, a White House official with direct knowledge told Axios.

What it means

This headline signals potential military action by the US against Iran, which could escalate tensions in the region. Markets often react to geopolitical risks, especially concerning oil prices and safe-haven assets like gold. Traders should watch for volatility in equities and FX, particularly involving the USD and commodities, as the situation develops.

Sources

axios.com

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US Market Open, 6 Nov, 10:48 UTC · what it led with

APAC stocks were pressured; KOSPI slumped 6% following hefty losses in Samsung and SK Hynix.
USD is firmer against all G10 peers awaiting the US NFP report.

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Iranian President Pezeshkian says the Supreme Leader has granted the government some authority on dialogue, ISNA reports.
EUR/USD+0.1%
ECB policymakers see a December rate hike followed by a pause; New ECB staff estimates show the rise in bond yields cutting growth by a cumulative 100bps and inflation by 90bps in 2027-28 vs the September baseline, according to reports, citing sources.
EUR/USD−0.1%
ECB President Lagarde (Q&A) says policymakers believe they are in a good position to wait for incoming information. The situation they are in could have warranted a hike.
EUR/USD+0.1%

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