In early trading, spot gold and silver opened lower but then surged straight up. At the time of writing, spot gold has fallen below $4,100 per ounce, while spot silver has turned positive.
Most US-listed Chinese stocks declined, with the Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index down 0.55%. Among popular Chinese stocks, Canadian Solar fell over 8%, Pony.ai dropped nearly 7%, Bilibili declined more than 4%, XPeng Motors fell over 4%, and JD.com was down more than 3%.
In the oil market, WTI crude also fell more than 0.4%.
On June 23 local time, former US President Donald Trump stated that Iran's claims regarding International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections are false. He added that inspectors would enter the country to conduct their work at the appropriate time.
Trump claimed the US side is "one hundred percent certain" that Iran has internally agreed to the relevant arrangements and said that if Iran's statements were true, he would immediately cancel the related talks.
Regarding when IAEA inspectors might enter Iran, Trump did not provide a specific timeline, stating only that it would happen "at the appropriate time" and that "there is no need to rush."
Earlier on the 23rd, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani stated that there are currently no plans for IAEA inspectors to visit Iran's damaged nuclear facilities.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Ali Bagheri Kani, stated on the 23rd that the Strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial vessels and no fees are being charged.
In the early hours of the 24th local time, Oman issued a statement. Citing its responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz and the waterway's importance to the global economy, and based on adherence to international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, ensuring freedom of navigation without charging tolls, and considering the outcomes of US-Iran negotiations and mediation efforts, Oman has coordinated with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to open a provisional maritime route for all vessels.
According to the arrangement, the relevant route will operate based on navigational coordinates published by the IMO and Omani authorities. Vessels planning to use this route must coordinate in advance with the IMO.
On June 23 local time, during a visit to Pakistan, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stated in an interview that the Iran-US understanding memorandum does not include Iran's missile program, and this will never be brought into negotiations in the future. Raisi said, "If it weren't for our missiles, Iran would have been razed to the ground by the US and Israel, just like the Gaza Strip in Palestine. Iran will never negotiate our defense capabilities with anyone."
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that it is a "double standard" and unacceptable and illogical for other countries to possess ballistic missiles while Iran is prohibited from having them.
Additionally, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah stated on the 23rd that Israel has "no choice" but to completely withdraw from Lebanese territory and fully implement the ceasefire agreement.
Speaking at an event in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon's capital, that day, Nasrallah said, "No justification can allow Israel to remain on even an inch of Lebanese land." He also stated that Israel's plan to eliminate Hezbollah has failed.
Nasrallah emphasized that the "resistance forces" remain the sole guarantee for Lebanon's liberation, independence, and sovereignty. He expressed appreciation for Iran's support to Lebanon and Hezbollah during the Lebanon-Israel conflict.
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