--- title: "US-Iran negotiation expectations swing back and forth, Asian stocks fall, Korean stocks down over 3%, oil prices slightly up" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/280559241.md" description: "Iran has explicitly stated it has no intention of direct talks with the US, but reports indicate that Trump wants to end the conflict within four to six weeks. Analysts warn that the war may enter a dangerous third phase of \"fighting while talking.\" Market sentiment has consequently fluctuated: Asian stocks are sluggish, the Korean Composite Index is down 3%, and oil prices are strengthening against the trend, with WTI rising over 1% to $91.34" datetime: "2026-03-26T07:00:20.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/280559241.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/280559241.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/280559241.md) --- > Supported Languages: [简体中文](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/280559241.md) | [繁體中文](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/280559241.md) # US-Iran negotiation expectations swing back and forth, Asian stocks fall, Korean stocks down over 3%, oil prices slightly up On Thursday, fluctuating expectations for US-Iran ceasefire talks led to continued market volatility, with Asian stock markets opening lower and international crude oil prices remaining stable while inching upwards. Iran has explicitly stated it has no intention of direct talks with the US. According to CCTV News, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi stated in an interview with state television on the 25th local time that the US had conveyed proposals through several friendly countries in the past few days regarding ending the war, which Iran's high command is studying. However, Araghchi emphasized that Iran "exchanging information" through these mediators does not signify negotiations with the United States. Previously, media outlets cited sources familiar with the matter who claimed Trump privately told advisors he believed the conflict was in its final stages and urged them to adhere to his publicly stated four-to-six-week timeline. Some anticipate the war could conclude before mid-May. As geopolitical negotiations stall, some analyses predict that the US will intensify military operations before major combat actions conclude (around mid-April) to force Iran to concede, ushering the war into a third phase of "fighting while talking." Looking at market movements, Asian stock markets opened lower and continued to decline. The Nikkei 225 index opened 0.2% higher, but is currently down 0.64%, with the TOPIX index down 0.3%. The yield on Japanese 2-year government bonds rose to 1.315%, the first time since 1996. The Seoul Composite Index in South Korea fell by over 3% during the day, and the Australian S&P/ASX 200 index declined. Overnight, the three major US stock indices closed higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.66%, the S&P 500 Index up 0.54%, and the Nasdaq Composite Index up 0.77%. Oil prices remained stable during Asian trading hours, with WTI crude oil up 1.13% for the day, trading at $91.34 per barrel. Continually updating ### Related Stocks - [BP p.l.c. (BP.UK)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BP.UK.md) - [Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/OXY.US.md) - [HSPC (603353.CN)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/603353.CN.md) - [The Energy Select Sector SPDR® ETF (XLE.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/XLE.US.md) - [Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/VDE.US.md) - [United States Brent Oil (BNO.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BNO.US.md) - [iShares US Oil Equipment & Services ETF (IEZ.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/IEZ.US.md) - [VanEck Oil Services ETF (OIH.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/OIH.US.md) - [SttStrtSPDRS&POil&GasExplor&ProdtnETF (XOP.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/XOP.US.md) - [United States Oil (USO.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/USO.US.md) - [ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil (UCO.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/UCO.US.md) - [F GX OIL (03097.HK)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/03097.HK.md) - [iShares US Oil & Gas Explor & Prod ETF (IEO.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/IEO.US.md) ## Related News & Research - [BlackRock CEO Fink warns of 'global recession' if oil goes to $150, BBC reports](https://longbridge.com/en/news/280441434.md) - [Asia faces crisis from Mideast disruption, Singapore foreign minister warns](https://longbridge.com/en/news/280144645.md) - [Euro zone bond yields rise as oil climbs on Iran ceasefire doubts](https://longbridge.com/en/news/280584345.md) - [EBRD warns of lower growth and windfall to Russia from Iran war](https://longbridge.com/en/news/280572352.md) - [LIVE MARKETS-Oil just right for Fed hawkishness](https://longbridge.com/en/news/280459344.md)