Crude oil futures fell more than 1% on Wednesday, after President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate over its nuclear program after six days of Israeli airstrikes.
U.S. crude oil futures fell 91 cents, or 1.22%, to $73.93 a barrel, while global benchmark Brent was down $1.09, or 1.43%, to $75.36 per barrel.
Trump told reporters outside the White House Wednesday that the Iranians had reached out to him and suggested that they send a delegation to the White House to negotiate.
“They want to negotiate,” Trump said. “They even suggested that they come to the White House. That’s courageous. It’s like not easy for them to do.”
The president confirmed Wednesday that he was considering launching a strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, though he indicated that no final decision had been made.
“I may do it, I may not do it, I mean nobody knows what I’m going to do,” Trump told reporters. The president said it wasn’t too late to reach a negotiated settlement: “Nothing is too late,” he told reporters.
Trump’s comments Wednesday seemed like a shift in tone from his threats against Iran a day ago. The president on Tuesday called for Iran’s unconditional surrender and warned its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that he is an “easy target” and U.S. patience with him was wearing thin.
Khamenei was defiant Wednesday, warning the U.S. of “irreparable damage” if it joined Israel’s air campaign.
