President Donald Trump said that the United States was considering “winding down” military operations against Iran but was not seeking a ceasefire with the Islamic Republic.
Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei meanwhile, claimed in a message to mark the first day of the Persian New Year to have delivered a “dizzying blow” to enemies in the three-week-old Middle East war.
On Wall Street, stocks ended sharply lower after oil prices shot up on fears that lengthy supply disruptions could lead to a global economic downturn.
All three major indices were firmly in the red, with the broad-based S&P 500 down 1.5 percent and the price of Brent crude, the international benchmark, rising 3.3 percent to $112.19 per barrel.
Turkey lashed out at Israel meanwhile, for striking Syrian army camps in southern Syria, calling it a “dangerous escalation” and urging the international community to intervene.
Syria has so far avoided being dragged into the regional war that began on February 28 when Israel and the United States began striking Iran, which has hit back by firing ballistic missiles and drones at countries across the region.
Lebanon has also been targeted by Israeli airstrikes against Iranian ally Hezbollah, which have left more than 1,000 people dead according to the Lebanese health ministry.
