Latest news with #USattacks
Al Jazeera
an hour ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
US attacks on Iran risk global conflict, Russia and China warn
Russia and China have strongly condemned US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, warning they could drag the world into a broader war and set a dangerous international precedent. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday described the American strikes as 'unjustified' and said they were pushing the world towards a perilous tipping point. Speaking after talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the Kremlin, Putin said Moscow would try to help the Iranian people but stopped short of detailing how. 'The absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran has no basis and no justification,' Putin told Araghchi. 'For our part, we are making efforts to assist the Iranian people.' The Chinese government also weighed in, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi condemning both the Israeli strikes on Iran and the US bombardment of its nuclear facilities. He said the rationale of attacking over 'possible future threats' sent the wrong signal to the world and urged a return to diplomacy. Wang called for all parties to 'immediately resume dialogue and negotiation', warning the escalation risked destabilising the region. Bringing the world 'to a very dangerous line' Tensions have soared in recent days, with US President Donald Trump and Israeli officials openly discussing the possibility of assassinating Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and pushing for regime change – moves the Kremlin warned could plunge the region into a full-blown war. During the high-level Kremlin meeting on Monday, Araghchi reportedly handed Putin a message from Khamenei, though the contents were not disclosed. A senior Iranian source told the Reuters news agency the letter called for increased Russian support, but Moscow has not confirmed receiving any such appeal. Later, while addressing a gathering of elite military recruits, Putin spoke more broadly about growing instability. 'Extra-regional powers are also being drawn into the conflict,' he said. 'All this brings the world to a very dangerous line.' Despite signing a 20-year strategic pact with Iran earlier this year, Russia has avoided making concrete military commitments to defend Tehran, and the agreement lacks any mutual defence clause. Iranian frustration Iranian officials, speaking anonymously to Reuters, expressed frustration with Moscow's perceived inaction. They said Tehran felt let down by both Russia and China, despite repeated calls for support. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov declined to say whether Iran had asked for weapons or military aid but insisted Moscow's ties with Tehran remained strong. 'Our strategic partnership with Iran is unbreakable,' Ryabkov said, adding that Iran had every right to defend itself. Still, the Kremlin appears wary of any move that might provoke a direct confrontation with Washington, particularly as Trump seeks to ease tensions with Moscow amid the war in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said US-Iran developments would not affect the Russia-US dialogue, calling them 'separate processes'. Memories of US-led wars in the Middle East still linger. At Sunday's United Nations Security Council session, Russia's UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia drew comparisons with the 2003 Iraq invasion. He recalled how the US falsely claimed Iraq held weapons of mass destruction. 'Again, we're being asked to believe the US's fairytales,' Nebenzia said. 'This cements our conviction that history has taught our US colleagues nothing.' Russia, China and Pakistan have jointly submitted a resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East.
CNA
19 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
Shares dip in Asia, oil up as world awaits Iran response
SYDNEY :Wall Street share futures slipped on Monday and oil prices briefly hit five-month highs as investors anxiously waited to see if Iran would retaliate to U.S. attacks on its nuclear sites, with resulting risks to global activity and inflation. Early moves were contained, with the dollar getting only a minor safe-haven bid and no sign of panic selling across markets. Oil prices were up around 2 per cent, but already well off their initial peaks. Optimists were hoping Iran might back down now its nuclear ambitions had been curtailed, or even that regime change might bring a less hostile government to power there. Analysts at JPMorgan, however, cautioned that past episodes of regime change in the region typically resulted in oil prices spiking by as much as 76 per cent and averaging a 30 per cent rise over time. Key will be access through the Strait of Hormuz, which is only about 33 km (21 miles) wide at its narrowest point and sees around 20 per cent of the world's daily oil consumption. "With the U.S. becoming involved, the risk of Iran retaliating by disrupting the flows of oil from the Middle East has risen significantly," warned analysts at ANZ. "Prices in the $90–95/bbl range would be the likely outcome." For now, Brent was up a relatively restrained 1.9 per cent at $78.46 a barrel, while U.S. crude rose 2 per cent to $75.30. Elsewhere in commodity markets, gold edged up 0.2 per cent to $3,375 an ounce. Share markets were proving resilient so far, with S&P 500 futures off 0.3 per cent and Nasdaq futures down 0.5 per cent, having both started with losses near 1 per cent. Nikkei futures were just a fraction lower at 38,380, pointing to a small opening fall for the cash index. The dollar edged up 0.2 per cent on the Japanese yen to 146.36 yen, while the euro dipped 0.3 per cent to $1.1485. The dollar index firmed 0.25 per cent to 99.008. There was also no sign of a rush to the traditional safety of Treasuries, with futures up only 1 tick. Futures for Federal Reserve interest rates were a tick lower, likely reflecting concerns a sustained rise in oil prices would add to inflationary pressures at a time when tariffs were just being felt in U.S. prices. Markets are still pricing a slim chance the Fed will cut at its next meeting on July 30, even after Fed Governor Christopher Waller broke ranks and argued for a July easing. Most other Fed members, including Chair Jerome Powell, have been more cautious on policy leading markets to wager a cut is far more likely in September. At least 15 Fed officials are speaking this week, and Powell faces two days of questions from lawmakers, which is certain to cover the potential impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs and the attack on Iran. The Middle East will be high on the agenda at a NATO leaders meeting at the Hague this week, where most members have agreed to commit to a sharp rise in defence spending. Among the economic data due are figures on U.S. core inflation and weekly jobless claims, along with early readings on June factory activity from across the globe.
Globe and Mail
19 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Shares dip in Asia, oil up as world awaits Iran response
Wall Street share futures slipped on Monday and oil prices briefly hit five-month highs as investors anxiously waited to see if Iran would retaliate to U.S. attacks on its nuclear sites, with resulting risks to global activity and inflation. Early moves were contained, with the U.S. dollar getting only a minor safe-haven bid and no sign of panic selling across markets. Oil prices were up around 2%, but already well off their initial peaks. Optimists were hoping Iran might back down now its nuclear ambitions had been curtailed, or even that regime change might bring a less hostile government to power there. Analysts at JPMorgan, however, cautioned that past episodes of regime change in the region typically resulted in oil prices spiking by as much as 76% and averaging a 30% rise over time. Key will be access through the Strait of Hormuz, which is only about 33 km (21 miles) wide at its narrowest point and sees around 20% of the world's daily oil consumption. 'With the U.S. becoming involved, the risk of Iran retaliating by disrupting the flows of oil from the Middle East has risen significantly,' warned analysts at ANZ. 'Prices in the $90–95/bbl range would be the likely outcome.' For now, Brent was up a relatively restrained 1.9% at $78.46 a barrel, while U.S. crude rose 2% to $75.30. Elsewhere in commodity markets, gold edged up 0.2% to $3,375 an ounce. Share markets were proving resilient so far, with S&P 500 futures off 0.3% and Nasdaq futures down 0.5%, having both started with losses near 1%. Nikkei futures were just a fraction lower at 38,380, pointing to a small opening fall for the cash index. The dollar edged up 0.2% on the Japanese yen to 146.36 yen , while the euro dipped 0.3% to $1.1485. The dollar index firmed 0.25% to 99.008. There was also no sign of a rush to the traditional safety of Treasuries, with futures up only 1 tick. Futures for Federal Reserve interest rates were a tick lower, likely reflecting concerns a sustained rise in oil prices would add to inflationary pressures at a time when tariffs were just being felt in U.S. prices. Markets are still pricing a slim chance the Fed will cut at its next meeting on July 30, even after Fed Governor Christopher Waller broke ranks and argued for a July easing. Most other Fed members, including Chair Jerome Powell, have been more cautious on policy leading markets to wager a cut is far more likely in September. At least 15 Fed officials are speaking this week, and Powell faces two days of questions from lawmakers, which is certain to cover the potential impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs and the attack on Iran. The Middle East will be high on the agenda at a NATO leaders meeting at the Hague this week, where most members have agreed to commit to a sharp rise in defense spending. Among the economic data due are figures on U.S. core inflation and weekly jobless claims, along with early readings on June factory activity from across the globe.
Reuters
20 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Shares dip in Asia, oil up as world awaits Iran response
SYDNEY, June 23 (Reuters) - Wall Street share futures slipped on Monday and oil prices briefly hit five-month highs as investors anxiously waited to see if Iran would retaliate to U.S. attacks on its nuclear sites, with resulting risks to global activity and inflation. Early moves were contained, with the dollar getting only a minor safe-haven bid and no sign of panic selling across markets. Oil prices were up around 2%, but already well off their initial peaks. Optimists were hoping Iran might back down now its nuclear ambitions had been curtailed, or even that regime change might bring a less hostile government to power there. Analysts at JPMorgan, however, cautioned that past episodes of regime change in the region typically resulted in oil prices spiking by as much as 76% and averaging a 30% rise over time. Key will be access through the Strait of Hormuz, which is only about 33 km (21 miles) wide at its narrowest point and sees around 20% of the world's daily oil consumption. "With the U.S. becoming involved, the risk of Iran retaliating by disrupting the flows of oil from the Middle East has risen significantly," warned analysts at ANZ. "Prices in the $90–95/bbl range would be the likely outcome." For now, Brent was up a relatively restrained 1.9% at $78.46 a barrel, while U.S. crude rose 2% to $75.30. Elsewhere in commodity markets, gold edged up 0.2% to $3,375 an ounce . Share markets were proving resilient so far, with S&P 500 futures off 0.3% and Nasdaq futures down 0.5%, having both started with losses near 1%. Nikkei futures were just a fraction lower at 38,380, pointing to a small opening fall for the cash index (.N225), opens new tab. The dollar edged up 0.2% on the Japanese yen to 146.36 yen , while the euro dipped 0.3% to $1.1485 . The dollar index firmed 0.25% to 99.008 . There was also no sign of a rush to the traditional safety of Treasuries, with futures up only 1 tick . Futures for Federal Reserve interest rates were a tick lower, likely reflecting concerns a sustained rise in oil prices would add to inflationary pressures at a time when tariffs were just being felt in U.S. prices. Markets are still pricing a slim chance the Fed will cut at its next meeting on July 30, even after Fed Governor Christopher Waller broke ranks and argued for a July easing. Most other Fed members, including Chair Jerome Powell, have been more cautious on policy leading markets to wager a cut is far more likely in September. At least 15 Fed officials are speaking this week, and Powell faces two days of questions from lawmakers, which is certain to cover the potential impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs and the attack on Iran. The Middle East will be high on the agenda at a NATO leaders meeting at the Hague this week, where most members have agreed to commit to a sharp rise in defence spending. Among the economic data due are figures on U.S. core inflation and weekly jobless claims, along with early readings on June factory activity from across the globe.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Shares dip in Asia, oil up as world awaits Iran response
By Wayne Cole SYDNEY (Reuters) -Wall Street share futures slipped on Monday and oil prices briefly hit five-month highs as investors anxiously waited to see if Iran would retaliate to U.S. attacks on its nuclear sites, with resulting risks to global activity and inflation. Early moves were contained, with the dollar getting only a minor safe-haven bid and no sign of panic selling across markets. Oil prices were up around 2%, but already well off their initial peaks. Optimists were hoping Iran might back down now its nuclear ambitions had been curtailed, or even that regime change might bring a less hostile government to power there. Analysts at JPMorgan, however, cautioned that past episodes of regime change in the region typically resulted in oil prices spiking by as much as 76% and averaging a 30% rise over time. Key will be access through the Strait of Hormuz, which is only about 33 km (21 miles) wide at its narrowest point and sees around 20% of the world's daily oil consumption. "With the U.S. becoming involved, the risk of Iran retaliating by disrupting the flows of oil from the Middle East has risen significantly," warned analysts at ANZ. "Prices in the $90–95/bbl range would be the likely outcome." For now, Brent was up a relatively restrained 1.9% at $78.46 a barrel, while U.S. crude rose 2% to $75.30. Elsewhere in commodity markets, gold edged up 0.2% to $3,375 an ounce. [GOL/] Share markets were proving resilient so far, with S&P 500 futures off 0.3% and Nasdaq futures down 0.5%, having both started with losses near 1%. Nikkei futures were just a fraction lower at 38,380, pointing to a small opening fall for the cash index. The dollar edged up 0.2% on the Japanese yen to 146.36 yen, while the euro dipped 0.3% to $1.1485. The dollar index firmed 0.25% to 99.008. There was also no sign of a rush to the traditional safety of Treasuries, with futures up only 1 tick. Futures for Federal Reserve interest rates were a tick lower, likely reflecting concerns a sustained rise in oil prices would add to inflationary pressures at a time when tariffs were just being felt in U.S. prices. Markets are still pricing a slim chance the Fed will cut at its next meeting on July 30, even after Fed Governor Christopher Waller broke ranks and argued for a July easing. Most other Fed members, including Chair Jerome Powell, have been more cautious on policy leading markets to wager a cut is far more likely in September. At least 15 Fed officials are speaking this week, and Powell faces two days of questions from lawmakers, which is certain to cover the potential impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs and the attack on Iran. The Middle East will be high on the agenda at a NATO leaders meeting at the Hague this week, where most members have agreed to commit to a sharp rise in defence spending. Among the economic data due are figures on U.S. core inflation and weekly jobless claims, along with early readings on June factory activity from across the globe. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
