In this article
Asia-Pacific markets were set to open lower Friday following a volatile session on Wall Street overnight, as investors continued to parse the contradictory messaging on the Middle East from the U.S. and Iran.
President Donald Trump extended his Friday deadline to attack Iran’s energy infrastructure by 10 days to April 6 to allow more time for negotiations.
The extension was at the request of the government of the Islamic Republic, Trump said, and it was granted in exchange for 10 oil tankers that passed through the Strait of Hormuz as a “present” from Tehran.
“As per Iranian Government request, please let this statement serve to represent that I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
