Iran-US Tensions Escalate, Markets Swing

0:00It's March 24th. This is Global News Today, your AI-powered source for world news. Iran fired multiple waves of missiles at Israel this week, prompting air raid sirens across parts of the country, including Tel Aviv. The Israeli military intercepted most of them, with some debris damaging homes in northern areas, but no deaths were reported. This came right after U.S. President Donald Trump delayed a planned strike on Iran's power grid by five days, citing productive talks with Iranian officials, markets swung wildly in response. Stock prices climbed while oil dropped below $100 a barrel, following Trump's announcement, but gains faded Tuesday, as doubt set in. Brent crude rose 4.2% to $1.04 and 21 cents, reflecting the back-and-forth tension. Iran's parliament speaker denied any negotiations took place, calling it fake news aimed at manipulating markets. The revolutionary guards dismissed Trump's comments as worn-out psychological tactics and

1:00vowed more attacks on U.S. targets. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he'd spoken with Trump in Israel would keep pressing operations in Lebanon and Iran. Talks might still be brewing through back channels. European and Pakistani officials noted messages relayed via Egypt, Pakistan, and Gulf states with possible direct meetings in Islamabad this week, involving U.S. on-boys and Iranian representatives. Iran's foreign minister also held consultations with Oman to ease straight-of-hormuz issues. The war, now over a month old since late February, has closed that vital shipping route and killed more than 2,000 people. With energy supplies at risk and conflicting signals from all sides, the region stays on a knife's edge as the policy hangs in the balance.