Oil prices tumbled Friday and equity traders fought to end a volatile week on a positive note after Donald Trump said he would consider over the next two weeks whether to join Israel’s attacks on Iran.
Speculation had been swirling that Trump would throw his lot in with Israel, but on Thursday, he said he would decide “within the next two weeks” whether to involve the United States, giving diplomacy a shot to end the hostilities.
While tensions are sky high amid fears of an escalation, the US president’s remarks suggested the crisis could be prevented from spiralling into all-out war between the Middle East foes.
Since Israel first hit Iran last Friday, the two have exchanged deadly strikes and apocalyptic warnings, though observers said the conflict has not seen a critical escalation.
uropean foreign ministers were due to meet their Iranian counterpart on Friday in Geneva.
In a statement read out by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the president said: “Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.”
Leavitt added: “If there’s a chance for diplomacy, the president’s always going to grab it, but he’s not afraid to use strength as well.”
