European Stocks Drop Amid U.S. Extension of Iran Strike Hiatus European stock markets continued their decline on Friday as U.S. President Donald Trump announced an extension of the military pause on attacks targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure. The decision, which prolongs the 10-day hiatus until April 6, came amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. Investors reacted with caution, as uncertainty over the geopolitical situation weighed on sentiment across the region. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index fell 0.8% shortly after 1:45 p.m. London time, while the FTSE 100 dropped 0.2%, the CAC 40 in France declined 0.6%, and Germany’s DAX lost 1.2%. The sell-off followed a broader pattern of market volatility, with European bourses resuming declines from the previous session. Investors struggled to interpret mixed signals from U.S. and Middle Eastern leaders, particularly as peace talks remained inconclusive. Trump’s announcement came after a statement on Thursday evening in which he reiterated the pause on attacks, framing it as a gesture of goodwill to facilitate negotiations. In a post on his Truth Social platform, the president claimed the decision was requested by the Iranian government and emphasized that talks were progressing despite media criticism. “Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well,” he wrote. The U.S. president also highlighted a separate development, asserting that Iran had allowed 10 oil tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz as a “present” to the United States. However, Tehran has not publicly commented on the matter, leaving the claim unverified. Meanwhile, Asian markets had already fallen overnight, while U.S.#iran #strait_of_hormuz #us_president_donald_trump #stoxx_600 #g7_foreign_ministers_meeting
