President Donald Trump mentioned the possibility of a deal with Iran while simultaneously maintaining military pressure.
In a Fox News interview on the 5th, Trump said, "Talks are underway, and there is a strong chance a deal could be reached tomorrow." He added a hard-line stance, saying, "If an agreement is not reached swiftly, we could consider options that destroy everything and secure oil."
Earlier the same day, he suggested on social media the possibility of a large-scale strike on the 7th targeting major Iranian infrastructure such as power plants and bridges. It is seen as a message pressing for both the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and a settlement of negotiations.
Trump has already said he would hold off on strikes on Iranian energy facilities and other targets until the 6th, and he has repeatedly warned that he could take military action after the deadline.
Markets view the message, which pairs hard-line remarks with optimism about talks, as a strategy to manage rising military tensions while securing the upper hand in negotiations.