Tehran has firmly rejected assertions by US President Donald Trump that Iran is preparing to sign a deal with Washington this weekend, signaling a deepening diplomatic stalemate that threatens to unravel the fragile ceasefire framework.
The rejection comes as the region remains on edge, with markets closely monitoring whether the two sides can bridge their widening gaps before tensions spill over into renewed hostilities.
The diplomatic friction has kept risk premiums elevated across energy and shipping markets.
Investors are pricing in the possibility that the current pause in direct military confrontation could dissolve if neither side yields on core demands.
The absence of a breakthrough means that geopolitical risk remains a dominant driver of asset allocation, particularly for commodities sensitive to Middle Eastern supply disruptions.
This development follows a week of conflicting signals regarding the status of negotiations.