European stock markets opened lower on Friday after renewed U.S.-Iran hostilities rattled investor confidence and boosted oil. At 04:38 ET (08:38 GMT), the pan-European Stoxx 600 was down 0.77%. Major national indices also declined: Germany's DAX dropped 0.90%, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 fell 0.63% and France's CAC 40 slid 0.73%.
Sentiment turned negative following a U.S. Central Command statement that American destroyers transiting the Strait of Hormuz were subjected to Iranian missile, drone and small-boat attacks on Thursday. The United States responded with strikes on Iranian port infrastructure at Bandar Abbas and Qeshm, according to the statement.
Iran accused Washington of breaching the ceasefire and said an Iranian oil tanker had also been targeted. U.S. President Donald Trump described Iran's leaders as "lunatics," warned Tehran to sign a deal "fast," and later told reporters the ceasefire was still technically in effect, referring to the U.S. strikes as a "love tap." These developments interrupted hopes that talks between the two powers would resume under a one-page framework reportedly being negotiated, which had earlier lifted sentiment.
The earlier optimism had been tied to reports that Washington and Tehran were close to agreeing a simple framework for renewed peace talks expected to start in Pakistan. That sentiment had supported gains in both European and U.S. markets earlier in the week by raising the prospect that the Strait of Hormuz - effectively closed since the war began on February 28 - could be reopened, easing strains on global energy supplies.
Energy markets reacted quickly. Crude benchmarks moved higher amid the security risks to shipments through a key chokepoint for global oil flows. The prospect of constrained supply pressured aviation fuels, a dynamic felt across airlines and related sectors.
Corporate news in the region reflected those pressures. IAG, the owner of British Airways, warned that annual profit would be lower than forecast, citing soaring jet fuel costs linked to the Iran conflict as a drag on earnings. Testing firm Intertek fell 4% after rejecting a third, sweetened takeover bid of 8.93 billion from Swedish private equity firm EQT, saying the offer significantly undervalued the company.
Not all names moved lower. Property portal Rightmove reaffirmed its 2026 guidance after reporting that growth in its core membership was in line with expectations, helped by its AI-powered tools.
European carriers and regulators are already adjusting capacity. France's transport minister said he did not anticipate massive flight cancellations this summer despite jet fuel shortages, although Transavia France has trimmed roughly 2% of its May and June flights as airlines seek alternatives to Middle Eastern supplies that account for three-quarters of the continent's aviation fuel.
Political developments in the U.K. added to the risk-off mood. Keir Starmer's Labour Party suffered heavy losses in local elections, while the populist Reform UK party led by Nigel Farage made significant gains across England, Scotland and Wales. Those results contributed to the broader market unease during the European trading session.
The market reaction combined geopolitical risk, energy supply concerns and select company-specific headlines to push investors away from risk assets and into safe-haven and commodity positions. How long the renewed tensions will persist and whether they derail planned diplomatic talks remained unclear on Friday.