Oil rises 6% and Asian stocks fall after Trump says US will hit Iran hard and ‘finish the job’ - AP News

AP News
April 2, 2026
3 min read

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Trump's threat to hit Iran hard sparked oil price surges and Asian stock declines.

How This Affects You

Gas prices may rise due to oil market volatility triggered by escalating Iran tensions, affecting your fuel costs and potentially broader inflation.

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President Trump said the United States will hit Iran hard and "finish the job," triggering a sharp market reaction as oil prices surged and Asian stock indexes declined. The remarks escalated tensions with Iran at a time of existing regional instability, reflecting the Trump administration's more aggressive posture toward Tehran. Oil markets traditionally rise when geopolitical risks increase due to potential supply disruptions, while equities in Asia fell as investors grew wary of escalating conflict. The statement came without immediate clarification of what military or diplomatic action the administration intends to take. Markets remained volatile as traders assessed the likelihood and scale of any U.S. action against Iran.

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