What happened
Vice President JD Vance said he and President Donald Trump "both feel pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement" with Iran, while a US official called Monday's strike "a defensive measure for Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against US assets."
Why it matters
The simultaneous diplomacy and attack suggest Washington is pursuing talks while keeping military pressure on, a dual track that helped send oil prices tumbling yesterday.
WHO IT HITSOil traders and energy markets are already reacting, with prices tumbling yesterday on hopes of a diplomatic deal. Mediators pushing for an agreement between the US and Iran also face a shifting backdrop.
Summaries like this, every morning.
Vice President JD Vance's optimistic comments about a negotiated settlement with Iran came on the same day the US quietly launched an attack. That attack was described by a US official as "a defensive measure for Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against US assets." The Wall Street Journal reported that Monday's strike was one of "a series … secretly carried out," suggesting the military action is not a one-off. Meanwhile, mediators have continued to push for an agreement between the US and Iran. The diplomatic hopes had an immediate market effect, sending oil prices tumbling yesterday, ahead of elections that could erode Republicans' grip on Washington and complicate the White House's push for more war funding.
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