Fredshåp løfter USA-børsene: S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow Jones Rise
Wall Street surged Wednesday, buoyed by reports of a proposed 15-point peace plan presented by the United States to Iran, despite a swift rejection of the plan by Tehran. The S&P 500 closed up 0.88 percent, the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.34 percent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.84 percent.
The gains followed a New York Times report detailing the US proposal, delivered via Pakistan, which seeks to de-escalate the conflict in the Middle East. The plan reportedly calls for Iran to curtail its nuclear program, limit its missile development, and guarantee safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran Rejects US Proposal
Iranian officials swiftly dismissed the US plan, stating it was unacceptable and demanding preconditions for any negotiations. According to Iranian state television, a spokesperson said, “Iran will not allow Trump to dictate the timing of the war’s end,” and reiterated a demand for reparations for damages incurred during the conflict, as well as guarantees against future attacks.
The rejection comes after weeks of escalating tensions following a coordinated attack by the US and Israel on Iranian targets on February 28th. Since then, approximately 4,370 people have been killed across the Middle East, according to various governments and human rights groups, with Iran accounting for at least 3,231 of those deaths, according to the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI).
The conflict has likewise raised concerns about global energy supplies, with the price of Brent crude oil fluctuating wildly in recent weeks. The price settled around $99 a barrel at the opening of trading in New York on Wednesday.
Hilmar Mjelde, a professor of political science at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, told Nettavisen that Iran has identified a key vulnerability for the US: the Strait of Hormuz. “Iran has found the US’s Achilles’ heel, namely the Strait of Hormuz, which they can use as a means of pressure as long as they are in power,” Mjelde said. He added that the war is likely to continue in the near future.
The US plan also reportedly included a proposal for a one-month ceasefire to allow for negotiations regarding Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, according to Israeli media. It remains unclear whether Israel, which participated in the initial attacks on Iran alongside the US, supports the proposal.
Databrick company Arm saw a significant jump in its stock price on Wednesday, rising 16.79 percent following reports that its new chip is projected to generate $15 billion in revenue by 2031, according to CNBC.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed confidence that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen, noting that over 20 countries, including several NATO members, have offered to assist ships in safely navigating the crucial waterway. However, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has threatened to attack power plants in Israel and other Middle Eastern countries that supply electricity to US military bases in the region.