[US Stock Market] Trump: If the Strait of Hormuz cannot reopen, will bomb all Iran's power plants and oil wells. Oil prices jump 2%. Dow rises 233 points (updating)

U.S. President Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social on Monday (the 30th), saying that the United States is conducting serious talks with a brand-new, more rational Iranian government to end its military operations in Iran. He also said the talks had made major progress, but that if an agreement could not be reached as soon as possible for any reason, and if the Strait of Hormuz were not opened immediately for commercial navigation, the U.S. would blow up and completely destroy all of Iran’s power plants, oil wells, and Khark Island, including all seawater desalination facilities.

He also emphasized that the United States has intentionally not touched the above-mentioned facilities, saying that the action is meant as retaliation for Iran’s “terror rule” carried out for up to 47 years by the previous Iranian administration, during which it slaughtered and killed many U.S. soldiers and other personnel.

The chairman of the Iranian National Development Fund’s executive committee, Gazanfar…, later rebutted the claim, saying that Iran’s power plants are spread out and more numerous, which reduces the likelihood of a complete nationwide blackout. He also said that if Iran’s power-generation facilities were targeted, Iran would plunge the entire region into a blackout state, adding that Iran’s armed forces have the capability to do so.

Gazanfar… also said that countries supporting U.S. and Israeli actions will sooner or later need to pay a price for it—possibly in the form of damage to their own territory or compensation in the future for losses suffered by Iran.

Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent, when accepting an interview with overseas media, said that global oil markets have sufficient supply, with an increasing number of vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. As time goes on, the United States will regain control of the Strait of Hormuz, and the Strait of Hormuz will achieve freedom of navigation, whether through U.S. escort or multinational escort.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that although tensions between the United States and Israel with Iran remain, Trump still tends to resolve the Iran issue through diplomatic channels. In the interview, he said that indirect communication between the U.S. and Iran is still being conducted through intermediaries, showing that despite the conflict, diplomatic channels remain open.

He also accused Iran’s leadership of using national resources to support regional armed groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iraqi Shiite militias, while also threatening neighboring countries. At the same time, he welcomed the possibility of Iran’s leadership changing its political ideas, saying that the U.S. would “seize” any opportunity that could prompt Iran to change its political direction.

There are signs that the situation in the Middle East is escalating; oil prices continue to move higher. Brent May futures rose more than 2% again to $115.08 per barrel. June futures also rose to $107.71. New York oil futures broke above $100 a barrel, to $101.81, up 2.2%. The decline in gold prices is under control; it is temporarily up 0.8%, at $4,531.24 per ounce.

U.S. stocks rebounded at the open on Monday. The Dow rose 230 points to 45,397; the S&P rose 18 points to 6,387; the Nasdaq rose 31 points, or 0.2%, to 20,980. The U.S. will release this week data including March ADP employment changes, the March ISM manufacturing index, the March unemployment rate, and non-farm employment figures.

U.S. President Trump claimed that Iran has “agreed” to most of the 15 war-ending demands the U.S. presented to Tehran, although it is not yet clear whether the two sides are actually negotiating.

Trump said, “They agreed to most of what we asked. How could they not?” He added, “We’ll also put forward some other demands.” However, he refused to disclose what specific concessions Iran has made.

Hong Kong stocks and ADR market conditions are continuously updated—see details on: next page

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Intraday performance:

【19:55】Trump: If the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened, it will blow up all of Iran’s power plants and oil wells; oil prices jump another 2%; Dow Jones futures rise 244 points

【18:15】Dow Jones futures rise 153 points; Nasdaq futures up 0.3%; this week focuses on Middle East fighting situation + non-farm data

【18:10】【Iran crisis】Iran confirms the death of the commander of the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; denies any direct negotiations (updated continuously)

【13:26】Dow Jones futures rise 13 points to 45,437; S&P futures up 6 points to 6,418; Nasdaq futures up 22 points, or nearly 0.1%, to 23,351.

【13:26】NY oil futures rise 1.3% to $100.98; Brent oil futures rise 2.3% to $115.17. For gold, the latest is steadying; NY gold futures up 0.2% to $4,534; spot gold up 0.4% to $4,512.

【12:19】【European Central Bank】Member: target 2% inflation; it’s still too early to talk about raising rates; warns the U.S. financial system of systemic risk

【10:58】【Iran crisis】Trump says the U.S. may seize Iran’s oil and take over the export hub at Khark Island

【10:21】【Japanese yen trend】Jun Muro… warns it will take “bold action”; 4.9 yen per 100 Hong Kong dollars

【09:30】【Oil price trend】Schroders expects high oil prices to last longer, but the level of pain is only half of the peak of the 2007 crisis

【09:17】【Gold price trend】After gold prices recorded their first rise since the outbreak of the Middle East war last week, gold prices have fallen again this week

【08:33】【Iran crisis】War escalation lifts oil prices; Japan and South Korea stock markets have once again experienced a “Black Monday”

【07:30】【Iran crisis】Oil price rises another 2%. Pakistan: plans to hold U.S.-Iran talks in the coming days; Iran allows 20 ships to pass through the strait; Trump considers deploying ground forces (updated continuously)

【07:30】U.S. President Trump said it will extend for another 10 days the bombing of Iran’s power plants. This has not eased market worries; instead, concerns are growing that a prolonged conflict will affect oil supplies, intensifying the global economic impact. U.S. stocks fell last Friday. The Dow closed at 45,166, down 793 points; the S&P fell 1.67%; and the Nasdaq fell 2.15%.

Watch U.S. stocks close:

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U.S. stock market developments last week—see details: 【U.S. stocks close】Iran says nuclear facilities were hit; fighting could expand further; the Dow plunges 793 points; oil prices rise again; the U.S. dollar breaks above 100

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