Financial markets were muted on Sunday as investors were reluctant to bite on the latest well-timed social media post from President Donald Trump about Iran.
Futures tied to the Dow Jones industrial average fell 53 points, or 0.11%. S&P 500 futures were up 0.08%, and Nasdaq futures added 0.25%.
U.S. oil futures dipped 0.16% to $101.78 a barrel, while Brent crude rose 0.1% to $108.28. Gold fell 0.68% to $4,613.10 per ounce.
The U.S. dollar was flat against the euro and up 0.08% against the yen. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was steady at 4.372%.
“The Ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong — They are victims of circumstance,” he added. “This is a Humanitarian gesture on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran.”
Trump also said his envoys were having positive discussions with Iran, but warned that if his Project Freedom is interfered with, it will “have to be dealt with forcefully.”
U.S. military support for Project Freedom will include destroyers, more than 100 aircraft, unmanned platforms, and 15,000 service members, according to Central Command.
Last month, Navy warships started conducting anti-mine operations in the Strait of Hormuz, though it could take weeks or months to completely eliminate the threats. Meanwhile, Iran has insisted that any ships transiting the strait pay the regime a toll and follow a course approved by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Trump made no mention of the Navy or Iran’s toll in his post on Sunday. At the same time, the U.S. military continues to enforce a naval blockade on Iran to keep its oil exports bottled up and add economic pressure.
