JH Kim

While President Donald Trump is reviewing the possibility of US intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict, the White House said that the United States is still maintaining contact with Iran. According to CNN on the 19th (local time), Caroline Leavitt, the White House spokesperson, said at a briefing, "We can confirm that correspondence between the United States and Iran is ongoing." However, she avoided commenting on the specific means, such as whether the contacts are direct or indirect. While the United States is prioritizing a diplomatic solution, President Trump is said to be showing a more positive stance toward military intervention as the week progresses. In a statement read by Spokesperson Leavitt that day, President Trump said, "A final decision on this matter will be made within the next two weeks."

On the 19th (local time), according to the crypto-specialized media outlet Decrypt, the London-based neobank Revolut is reportedly considering launching a stablecoin. According to anonymous sources, Revolut is in discussions with at least one crypto company regarding the matter. However, no specific details on issuance schedule or structure have been released so far. Previously, in 2024, Revolut expanded its crypto business by launching its own cryptocurrency exchange, 'RevolutX.' This push for a stablecoin is seen as part of a strategy to strengthen payment and financial services within its ecosystem.

According to CNN on the 19th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he would decide within the next two weeks whether to take military action against Iran. On this day, White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said in an official briefing, "Since there is a possibility of diplomatic negotiations with Iran, a final decision on military action will be made within two weeks." President Trump explained in a statement, "It is assessed that there is a substantial possibility of negotiations with Iran in the near future," and added, "Considering the possibility of a diplomatic resolution, I have decided to postpone the decision for now." This announcement comes amid escalating military tensions between Israel and Iran, drawing attention to the level of the U.S. response.

According to CNN on the 19th (local time), President Donald Trump’s national security team has been steadily arriving at the White House Situation Room for a scheduled meeting. According to the media outlet, ahead of the meeting scheduled for 11:30 a.m. (local time), Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff arrived at the West Wing of the White House. Some attendees were seen entering through other entrances. Although President Trump’s official schedule lists this meeting as an 'intelligence briefing', it is interpreted that, since it is being held in the Situation Room, more sensitive topics are likely to be discussed compared to regular daily briefings. Meanwhile, President Trump is holding a Situation Room meeting with the national security team for the third time this week.

According to CNN on the 19th (local time), Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned, "Israeli citizens should keep their distance from areas near military and intelligence facilities." He stated via X (formerly Twitter), "The Iranian military has precisely targeted Israel's command, control, and intelligence headquarters, as well as other key objectives," adding, "Due to the shockwave from the attack, Soroka Medical Center, where wounded Israeli soldiers from Gaza were receiving treatment, suffered partial damage." While Israel criticized the attack as targeting the hospital directly, Iran maintained that it had aimed at a military command post near the hospital. Minister Araghchi further stated, "Since last week, when Israel launched an illegal war against Iranian nationals, hundreds of innocent Iranians have been brutally massacred," and warned, "Our powerful armed forces will continue to retaliate until the criminals targeting our people cease and pay the price." Meanwhile, he is scheduled to visit Geneva, Switzerland on the 20th (local time) for talks with European diplomatic officials, with CNN reporting that the talks are 'exploratory in nature, aimed at assessing the potential for substantive negotiations.'

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 18th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump approved a plan to strike Iran but withheld the final order, according to senior officials. According to multiple sources familiar with the matter, President Trump plans to make a final decision after monitoring whether Tehran abandons its nuclear program. A major U.S. military target mentioned is Iran’s 'Fordow enrichment facility (Fordow enrichment facility)'. The facility is located under a mountain and is considered to have strong defenses, and Israel has not struck it yet. Military experts have analyzed that the facility can withstand most weapon attacks. President Trump is expected to make a final decision on carrying out the operation depending on Iran's response, and there is analysis that this could be a watershed for the future of the Middle East.

The three major U.S. stock indices closed with mixed results. On the 19th, the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.13% to close at 19,546.27 points compared to the previous day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.10% to 42,171.66 points, while the S&P 500 Index fell 0.04% to close at 5,980.43 points.

According to CNN on the 18th (local time), the U.S. government evacuated some staff and families of its embassy in Israel using U.S. military aircraft. This was in line with the 'Voluntary Authorized Departure' measure implemented over the past weekend, amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. No order has been given for a complete evacuation of the embassy, and departure by diplomats and their families is optional, not mandatory. It is reported that some individuals left for Jordan by land in addition to those evacuated by military aircraft. A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy stated, "In accordance with the current situation and the voluntary authorized departure measure, embassy staff have begun to leave Israel through various methods," and confirmed that the embassy is temporarily closed until the end of this week. Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said, "We are coordinating evacuation flights and cruise ship boardings for Americans wishing to leave Israel." U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated the previous day, "The State Department is currently running a 24-hour response task force to handle duties related to the conflict, including support for U.S. citizens."

According to CNBC on the 18th (local time), Jerome Powell, Chair of the Fed, stated, "Although uncertainty has somewhat eased, it still remains at a high level," and added, "The timing of rate cuts could be sooner or later." He continued, "If the labor market maintains its current level and inflation falls, it may be reasonable to hold rates steady," explaining that "no Fed member is strongly convinced about the rate path." He also mentioned, "We might be able to make better decisions by waiting a few more months," but added, "Nonetheless, there is a possibility that inflation figures could be significant in the months ahead."

According to Walter Bloomberg, an economic news account, on the 18th (local time), Donald Trump, President of the United States, stated that "Talks related to the Iran-Israel situation are scheduled to be held in about 1 hour." President Trump further added, "Iran has requested a visit to the White House, and there is a possibility that this request may be accepted."

According to CNBC on the 18th (local time), Jerome Powell, Chair of the Fed, stated that "the Fed’s inflation outlook could improve if there are no tariff measures." He added, "Currently, the specific impact of tariffs is uncertain, and until we can identify the effects more clearly, it is difficult to determine what response would be appropriate."

According to CNBC on the 18th (local time), Jerome Powell, Chair of the Fed, stated, "The impact of tariff policy will vary depending on the level applied, but this year's tariff increases could dampen economic activity and may spur inflation." He continued, "Currently, the FOMC's economic outlook entails considerable uncertainty, which is unusually high," and explained, "The forecasts we publish are not policy plans, but simply scenarios."

According to CNBC on the 18th (local time), Jerome Powell, the Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve System (Fed), stated, "The U.S. economy is generally maintaining a stable trajectory, and inflation remains somewhat high, still exceeding the target of 2%." He emphasized, "The unemployment rate continues to remain low, and the labor market is also still showing resilience." In addition, Powell added, "Various economic indicators suggest that the current economy is near maximum employment."

On the 18th (local time), the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the Fed stated, "The U.S. economy continues to show solid growth, the labor market remains stable, and the unemployment rate is at a low level." However, the Fed noted, "Current inflation is somewhat above the 2% target," while also assessing that "uncertainties regarding the economic outlook have somewhat eased." Accordingly, regarding future interest rate adjustments, it said, "We will carefully consider relevant economic indicators and outlooks to make a prudent decision." Additionally, the Fed added that it will continue its asset reduction policy (quantitative tightening) as planned. Meanwhile, the Fed revised its U.S. GDP growth forecast for this year down to 1.4%, and raised its annual inflation outlook to 3%.

The Federal Reserve System (Fed) Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced on the 18th (local time) in an official statement that it would keep the benchmark rate unchanged. This matches market expectations. As a result, the US benchmark interest rate remained at 4.25%~4.50%.

According to CNN on the 18th (local time), the Iranian government announced that it temporarily implemented nationwide internet access restrictions due to security concerns. The Iranian Ministry of Information and Communications explained in a statement, "Hostile forces are exploiting the national communications network for military purposes and threatening the lives and property of innocent citizens, so temporary internet access restrictions have been put in place." In this regard, local media reported that in major Iranian cities, use of some online services and messenger apps has been blocked or connection speeds have become significantly slower.

According to cryptocurrency-focused media outlet CoinDesk on the 18th (local time), British-based global bank Standard Chartered predicted, "Currently, stablecoins are leading the real-world asset (RWA) tokenization market, but in the future, non-stablecoin-based RWA tokenization will grow rapidly." Geoff Kendrick, Head of Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered, explained, "When illiquid assets such as private equity funds are tokenized on the blockchain, it offers benefits of faster settlement and cost savings," adding, "On the other hand, for already highly liquid assets like gold and US stocks, the on-chain transition has not provided additional advantages." He added, "Going forward, as regulatory clarity and technical infrastructure are established, real-world-asset-centric tokenization that maximizes efficiency on the blockchain will continue to expand."

According to economic news feed Walter Bloomberg on the 18th (local time), David Sacks, the United States White House crypto asset (cryptocurrency) and artificial intelligence (AI) policy chief (also known as the 'Crypto Czar'), stated that "the bill related to crypto assets will pass at a very fast pace." He added, "The stablecoin regulation bill will help boost global demand for the US dollar."

According to CNN on the 18th (local time), Iran's UN delegation strongly responded to recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, stating, "Iran will not negotiate or accept peace under pressure." The delegation announced via X (formerly Twitter), "Even more despicable than his lies is the cowardly threat to 'remove' Iran's Supreme Leader," emphasizing, "Iran will not negotiate or accept peace in response to the threats uttered by past warmongers seeking attention; for every threat, there will be a threat, and for every action, there will be a proportional response." Previously, President Trump indicated through Truth Social the possibility of removing Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, referring to him as an "easy target." Meanwhile, President Trump stated on this day that he had delivered an "ultimate ultimatum" to Iran, suggesting the possibility of military intervention.

The three major U.S. stock indices are showing an upward trend. As of 00:32 on the 19th, the Nasdaq Composite Index is trading at 19,622.26 points, up 0.52% from the previous day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 0.46% at 42,410.71 points, and the S&P 500 Index is up 0.41% at 6,007 points.

According to CNN on the 17th (local time), it was reported that Donald Trump, President of the United States, concluded a meeting with the national security team in the Situation Room at the White House. The meeting lasted for over an hour. This meeting was held as President Trump was weighing whether the United States would intervene in the Iran-Israel conflict. To this end, President Trump returned home early by shortening his stay at the G7 summit held in Canada by one day.

On the 17th (local time), economic news account Walter Bloomberg, citing The New York Times, reported that Iran has already prepared missiles and military equipment to attack US bases should the United States become involved in the war.

The three major U.S. stock indices closed lower. On the 18th, the Nasdaq Composite Index recorded 19,521.09 points, down 0.91% from the previous day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished trading at 42,215.80 points, down 0.70%, and the S&P 500 Index closed at 5,981.67 points, down 0.85%.

According to CNN on the 17th (local time), the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil in the United States surged by 4.3%, closing at $74.84 per barrel and reaching its highest level since January 22. Brent Crude also rose by more than 4%, intensifying tensions in the global energy market. This surge occurred immediately after a CNN report that President Donald Trump of the United States was holding meetings with his national security team in the White House situation room and was considering the possibility of military attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities. CNN, citing two U.S. government officials, reported that President Trump is showing an increasingly favorable stance toward military action. This month, oil prices have soared by about 23%, leading to a rise in gasoline prices. Moreover, concerns about the Strait of Hormuz, the world's largest oil shipping route, have also grown. In the Gulf of Oman, two oil tankers collided, and the incident is presumed to have occurred due to issues during navigation, stated the Joint Maritime Information Center. Robert Yawger, Head of Energy Futures at Mizuho Securities, analyzed, "The collision and fire heightened fears that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz could spiral out of control." However, he added, "The Strait of Hormuz has never been closed, even during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s."