Asian stocks climbed sharply on Wednesday following reports that the United States has put forward a multi-point proposal to Iran aimed at ending the war. The prospect of easing geopolitical tensions also triggered a significant decline in global crude oil prices.
Equity benchmarks across Asia recorded notable gains, with Japan’s Nikkei advancing 3.2%, South Korea’s Kospi up 3%, and Australia’s ASX 200 improving by 2.11%. The rally came after news surfaced late Tuesday that US officials sent Iran a 15-point plan—reportedly via Pakistani intermediaries—outlining terms to resolve the ongoing conflict.
President Donald Trump indicated that talks were underway, suggesting that Iranian authorities are interested in achieving a peace agreement, though Tehran has denied entering into direct negotiations with Washington. Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, stated that he had pulled back on military strikes against Iranian energy assets due to active negotiation efforts.
The New York Times, sourcing information from two unnamed officials, reported that details of the US plan and its circulation among Iranian decision-makers remain uncertain. The position of Israel, which has participated alongside the US in strikes against Iran, was also unclear.
Energy markets reacted to these developments, with Brent crude futures shedding 6.3% to settle at $97.90 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate futures lost 5.35%, declining to $87.41 per barrel.
