U.S. stock-index futures pushed higher on Tuesday night after a broad rally on Wall Street, reflecting investor reaction to President Donald Trump s public comments on the month-long Iran conflict. Traders had already moved to buy into weakness following sharp losses across U.S. equities in March, and the president s remarks appeared to reinforce the recovery.
By 20:59 ET (00:59 GMT) S&P 500 Futures were up 0.3% at 6,591.75 points. Nasdaq 100 Futures were higher by 0.5% at 24,035.0 points, while Dow Jones Futures rose 0.2% to 46,653.0 points. Those moves followed a session in which major U.S. indexes climbed between roughly 2.4% and 3.9%.
Trump outlines withdrawal timeline, declares objectives met
Mr. Trump said on Tuesday that the U.S. military would leave Iran in two to three weeks, asserting that his stated objectives of hobbling Iran s nuclear ambitions had been achieved and that the U.S. had secured regime change in Tehran. He also signaled that reopening the Strait of Hormuz - the strategic shipping lane that accounts for roughly 20% of global oil consumption - would not be pursued as part of a drawdown.
Earlier on Tuesday, the president said countries that did not aid the U.S. and Israel in attacks on Iran could either buy oil from the United States or "just take it" from Hormuz. He further said that U.S. gasoline prices would fall once military operations in Iran ceased, without providing additional detail on timing or mechanisms.
Trump is scheduled to address the nation on Iran at 21:00 ET (23:00 GMT) on Wednesday.
Tehran s response and maritime uncertainty
Iranian officials indicated a degree of openness to a U.S. military deescalation, but warned that a new maritime regime could be implemented in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran had previously proposed a toll system for vessels transiting Hormuz - a measure flagged in statements as one that could keep oil prices elevated in the near term.
Reports earlier in the week suggested the president was amenable to ending the Iran conflict without reopening Hormuz, a view that gained attention as the confrontation appeared likely to extend beyond an initial four-to-six-week window.
Market reaction - month-end buying and sector leadership
Wall Street staged a notable month-end rally, as the S&P 500 rose 2.9%, the Nasdaq Composite advanced 3.8%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2.5% on Tuesday. Those gains followed a difficult March, when the three indexes each recorded losses in the range of 4.8% to 5.5%.
Technology shares led Tuesday s advance, drawing heavy bargain-buying after extended declines through March. The sector had been pressured by investor concerns about the sustainability of returns tied to artificial intelligence disruptions, and by worries that AI-driven demand for semiconductors could slow, weighing on major chipmakers.
The combination of statements about an impending U.S. military withdrawal, month-end rebalancing activity, and tactical bargain buying among investors contributed to the late-session gains in futures. Yet several uncertainties highlighted by officials on both sides - including the status of Hormuz and the lack of specifics on energy-price impacts - leave markets with variables to monitor in coming days.