US military airstrikes hit Iran's missile positions, Rubio says agreement could take days

The U.S. military launched an attack on targets in southern Iran, reigniting market concerns about the escalation of geopolitical military conflicts. On Tuesday, during Asian trading hours, international oil prices rebounded, with Brent crude rising to $95.46 per barrel, up 1.82%. Spot gold fell by 1.00% during the day, touching $4,524.84 per ounce.

The U.S. Central Command confirmed that the U.S. military destroyed Iranian missile launch sites near the Strait of Hormuz and sank two Revolutionary Guard vessels attempting to lay mines. Iran subsequently fired surface-to-air missiles at U.S. military aircraft, leading to a U.S. counterattack on launchers around the port of Abbas. Spokesman Tim Hawkins stated that the U.S. military conducted a defensive strike while maintaining a ceasefire agreement.

During the conflict, negotiations were ongoing between the U.S. and Iran, with Iranian officials Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Abbas Araghchi traveling to Qatar to draft an agreement. Trump indicated that progress was being made in the negotiations, but warned of the possibility of ordering more strikes at any time. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also emphasized to the media that the Strait of Hormuz must be immediately opened without hindrance and free of tolls, and said that reaching an agreement with Iran might "take a few days."

Several liquefied natural gas ships and an Iraqi crude oil tanker have reportedly passed through the strait to countries such as China. The proposed framework requires Iran to remove the mines and cancel toll fees within 30 days. Until permanent secure and open access to the Strait of Hormuz is achieved, the crude oil market will continue to remain highly volatile.