The effects of the war in the Middle East continue to be felt in the markets. Despite many values recovering after a tough Monday, Asian stock markets are still far from their usual figures. However, they experienced a slight rebound on Tuesday following the improvement on Wall Street, as global investors speculated that the war with Iran might not last long.
On the frontlines, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia reported new attacks on their territory on Tuesday, the eleventh day of war in Iran. Most Middle Eastern countries hosting US military bases or legations have been targeted by Iranian attacks since February 28th when the US and Israel launched an offensive against the Islamic Republic.
Iran has vowed on Tuesday that not a single drop of oil will leave the Middle East "until further notice", in a strong rejection of Donald Trump's statements on Monday about a war "almost" being over.
Teresa Ribera disagrees with Von der Leyen and warns: "It is up to the European Council to set a position" on foreign policy
The Vice President of the European Commission, Teresa Ribera, openly disagreed with the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, regarding the EU's stance after the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. She warned that entering a debate that "seems to question international law" is "very dangerous."
While trying to downplay Von der Leyen's words as "thinking out loud" and denying any intention to sow doubt, Ribera also stated that "the way it was expressed" was not "appropriate," as she explained in an interview on 'Mas de Uno' on Onda Cero, reported by Europa Press.
She emphasized that it is up to the European Council to set a position, which will meet next week along with the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaya Kalas, to establish a common stance.
Netanyahu asserts that "breaking the yoke of tyranny" depends on the Iranians
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu placed the responsibility on the Iranians to end the rule of the ayatollahs in Iran, stating that "we are already achieving a serious change in Israel's status in the region." Israel has been advocating since the beginning of its offensive alongside the US against Iran that dismantling the ayatollahs' regime is one of its objectives, along with undermining Iranian ballistic and nuclear capabilities.
Pezeshkian denies that the intercepted missiles in Turkey were launched by Iran
The President of Iran, Masud Pezeshkian, denied in a conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that the two ballistic missiles intercepted in recent days were launched by Iran, as reported by the Turkish government. Erdogan spoke last night with Pezeshkian to insist that Turkey is not involved in the conflicts and that violating its airspace, for any reason, cannot be justified.
Last Wednesday and Monday, NATO's anti-aircraft defense systems intercepted ballistic missiles launched, according to the Turkish Ministry of Defense, from Iran.
Sirens heard in Jerusalem after an alert for Iranian missiles
Sirens were heard in Jerusalem on Tuesday after the Israeli army issued an alert for Iranian missiles, reported AFP journalists on site. Alerts have become frequent since the start of the war in the Middle East, triggered on February 28th by the US and Israel's attack on Iran.
The Government requested to include the Iranian Revolutionary Guard "in the European regime of sanctions for terrorism"
The Government stated that it requested to include the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, a prominent pillar of the current power system in Iran, "in the European regime of sanctions for terrorism." This issue was addressed in a written response sent to the Senate, where PP parliamentarian José Antonio Monago had inquired about this matter and the repression of opponents by the Tehran regime.
The response, reported by Servimedia, was sent to the Upper House on February 26th, two days before Israel and the US initiated an attack on Iran. This offensive, among other effects, resulted in the death of the then Supreme Leader of the country, Ali Jameneí, who was meeting with part of the country's leadership in a building that was bombed on the morning of February 28th.
Netanyahu claims that Israel is "breaking the bones" of Iranian power and "it is not over yet"
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Tuesday that Israel is "breaking the bones" of Iranian power since the start of the joint offensive with the United States on February 28th, but that "it is not over yet." "Our aspiration is for the Iranian people to be liberated from the yoke of tyranny; ultimately, it depends on them. But there is no doubt that, with the measures taken so far, we are breaking their bones, and we are not done yet," Netanyahu declared during a visit to the National Health Command Center on Monday night, according to a statement released on Tuesday.
China claims to be carrying out "active mediation" in the conflict in the Middle East
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Tuesday that it is conducting "active mediation" in the conflict in the Middle East and will continue to maintain contact with the parties involved to promote de-escalation and a return to negotiations amid military hostilities in the region, reported Efe.
The department's spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, stated in a press conference today that Beijing is "deeply concerned" about the tensions and called on all parties to halt military operations to avoid further escalation of the conflict.
Guo mentioned that the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, has recently held discussions with several Foreign Ministers from the region to "exchange in-depth views on the regional situation."
Greenpeace displays a banner with "No to War" at Puerta del Sol in Madrid
Greenpeace unfurled a large banner early on Tuesday at Puerta del Sol in Madrid to protest against the conflict in Iran with the slogan "No to War," reported Efe.
"Sorry if our words are extremely polarizing, perhaps basic decency has radicalized us, but we believe that war is wrong. NO TO WAR," justified the organization in a message on the Bluesky social network, where they posted a video of their protest action.
The video shows four activists descending the facade of one of the buildings at Puerta del Sol - located to the right of the Real Casa de Correos, the seat of the Government of the Community of Madrid - and, in front of passersby and onlookers, some recording with their phones, unfurling the banner.
South Korean Kospi rises by 5.35% amid optimism on Wall Street and volatility due to Iran
The main index of the Seoul Stock Exchange, the Kospi, rose by 5.35% on Tuesday, amid optimism on Wall Street following President Donald Trump's statements of an imminent end to the war in Iran and the associated volatility due to the conflict in the Middle East, reported Efe.
The index added 280.72 points, reaching 5,532.59 units. The Kosdaq index, which includes technology companies and mid-cap companies, also rose by 3.21%, or 35.4 points, to 1,137.68 units.
The rise in the South Korean stock market, which lost nearly 6% yesterday and recorded its worst percentage drop in history on Wednesday, comes after Wall Street closed in the green the previous day following President Trump's statement that the war against Iran is "practically over."
US deploys Patriot defense system in Turkey
The Turkish Ministry of Defense stated on Tuesday that a US Patriot air defense system was deployed in the southeastern province of Malatya as part of NATO measures to strengthen its ally's air defenses against missile threats arising from the war with Iran, reported Reuters.
The NATO radar base in Kürecik, which provides vital data for the alliance and helped identify two Iranian ballistic missiles aimed at Turkey, is located in Malatya.
Brent crude oil falls over 6%, to $92, after Trump's statements
The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil, after surging the previous day, fell more than 6% at the opening on Tuesday, settling around $92, in a context of strong volatility due to the military escalation in the Middle East, reported Efe.