Asian markets plunge after Trump’s Iran remarks dim ceasefire hopes

ISTANBUL

Asian stock markets fell sharply on Thursday after US President Donald Trump’s remarks on Iran dampened hopes for a swift end to the war, weighing on investor sentiment across the region.

As of 0620GMT, Japan’s Nikkei 225 was down 2.53%, while South Korea’s Kospi lost 5.55%.

Elsewhere in the region, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.44%, China’s Shanghai Composite dropped 1.14%, and India’s Sensex was down 1.91%, reflecting renewed risk aversion.

The decline followed Trump’s remarks signaling that US attacks on Iran would continue, offering no clear path toward de-escalation and disappointing investors who had hoped for signs of a near-term ceasefire or diplomatic breakthrough.

“We’re going to hit them extremely hard. Over the next two to three weeks. We’re going to bring them back to the Stone Age, where they belong,” Trump said.

The comments reversed earlier optimism that the conflict could soon ease, prompting a broad selloff in Asian equities.

The downturn in Asia followed a weaker tone in global markets as investors reassessed the likelihood of a near-term de-escalation in the Middle East conflict.