European equities and U.S. futures decline as Brent crude surges 2% after Iran rejects uranium export demands amid stalled talks.
European stocks and U.S. equity futures turned lower on Thursday after Iran’s Supreme Leader ruled out exporting near-weapons-grade uranium, defying a key U.S. condition for negotiations. The STOXX 600 dropped 0.3%, erasing earlier gains, while S&P 500 futures fell 0.3% and Nasdaq futures slipped 0.4%.
Brent crude oil climbed 2% to $107 a barrel, extending a rally fueled by supply concerns. The U.S. dollar index rose 0.1% to 99.23, while the euro dipped 0.1% to $1.161, near a six-week low. Markets had earlier reacted to mixed signals from U.S. officials on potential military action.
Investors weighed the risk of prolonged conflict as diplomatic efforts, including Pakistan’s mediation, showed little progress. The standoff overshadowed earlier optimism from Wall Street’s rebound on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested a brief delay in responding to Iran.