Bản tin sáng ngày 2 tháng 4: Iran phủ nhận yêu cầu "ngừng bắn" của chính mình, thị trường bắt đầu định giá kết thúc chiến tranh

1、【Iran denies it asked for a “ceasefire”】Iran says that statements by Trump about having requested a ceasefire are “false and without any basis.” Trump said that “the newly appointed Iranian regime president” made a ceasefire request, but he added that the United States would not agree to a ceasefire until “opening, freedom, and uninterrupted passage” are achieved in the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that if Iran could obtain “assurances” that would protect it from future attacks, it would consider ending the war.

Commentary: Although he denies it out loud, the real core message is what Pezeshkian floated—“considering ending the war” and “needing assurances.” Iran, having been severely drained by long-term sanctions and recent regional conflicts, indeed has a realistic need to secure a ceasefire to avoid war. But because Iran’s domestic hardline factions are large, the government absolutely cannot tolerate asking the United States to “wag its tail and beg.” Therefore, Iran’s official side must, at the very first moment, come out to sharply denounce Trump’s claim as “false and without any basis,” in order to safeguard national dignity and the legitimacy of the ruling regime. But it is quite clear that both the United States and Iran want to end or freeze the current conflict, and they have already begun probing each other’s bottom line. Real diplomatic negotiations usually do not start with a handshake; they start with this kind of remote “sky-high demands and counteroffers on the spot.”

2、【Markets begin pricing in the end of the war】As investors’ hopes of a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran increase, U.S. stocks have seen further gains. The S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq index opened higher and climbed steadily. Earlier, Asian and European stock markets had already surged significantly: Japan’s TOPIX rose 4%, and Europe’s STOXX 600 rose more than 2%. Brent crude oil, the global oil benchmark, briefly dipped below the $100 mark, but then rose again.

3、【Iran threatens to strike U.S. company giants】Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that it would begin attacking facilities in the Middle East related to U.S. technology companies on Wednesday. The IRGC said companies such as Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Nvidia would be regarded as “lawful targets” in order to retaliate for attacks by the United States and Israel. The group also issued threats to non-technology companies such as banking giant JPMorgan and aircraft manufacturer Boeing.

Commentary: In recent years, to obtain cheap electricity and vast tracts of land, U.S. tech giants have poured massive amounts of capital into building data centers and AI infrastructure across the Middle East, especially in Gulf countries. By listing commercial facilities in various parts of the Middle East that lack heavy defenses as “lawful targets,” Iran is trying to create the greatest economic damage and political pressure with the smallest tactical cost, thereby accumulating more leverage for itself in subsequent games or potential ceasefire talks.

4、【SpaceX IPO is right on the runway】Rocket company SpaceX, Musk’s company, has secretly filed for an initial public offering (IPO), which could become one of the largest listings transactions ever. Reports say SpaceX’s valuation exceeds $1 trillion, and it is seeking to raise hundreds of billions of dollars. The company hopes to finance its ambitious Mars mission and space data centers through going public.

5、【Trump pushes Britain back toward the EU】UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that, facing geopolitical turmoil and increasing tensions in relations with the United States, he will seek closer ties with the European Union. He also hinted that the UK will try to coordinate diplomatic efforts among all parties to help bring about the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.