Fat chance any electronic payment systems will be working by tomorrow since WWIII is now in full swing:Futures Tumble, Oil And Gold Soar On Reports Of "Huge Explosions" In Central Iran, Israeli Airstrikes In Iraq And Syria
And just like that, Israel - having once again ignored Biden's pleadings not to escalate the already tense situation - is retaliating against Iran's weekend strike, which was itself a retaliation against Israel bombing Iran's embassy in Syria on April 1.
Moments ago futures dumped, oil prices spiked, and treasury yields slumped amid social media reports and Reuters headlines that there have been three "huge explosions" near the central Iran cities of Natanz (location of an Iranian nuclear power plant) and Isfahan (location of the Iranian Nuclear Technology Center which is suspected of being the center of Iran's nuclear weapons program), as well as simultaneous explosions in Iraq and Syria, where the Israel air force appears to be targeting pro-Iranian militias.
IRANIAN MEDIA CONFIRMS AN ISRAELI ATTACK ON IRANIAN TERRITORY
IRANIAN STATE MEDIA IS REPORTING THAT TONIGHT’S AIRSTRIKE BY THE ISRAEL AIR FORCE MAY HAVE TARGETED THE 8TH TACTICAL AIRBASE OF THE IRANIAN AIR FORCE, WITHIN ISFAHAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WHICH CONTAINS MULTIPLE SQUADRONS OF F-14 “TOMCAT” FIGHTER AIRCRAFT.
ABC NEWS REPORTS THAT ISRAELI MISSILES HIT A SITE IN IRAN
IRAN STATE MEDIA SAYS 'NO FLY ZONE' ESTABLISHED OVER WESTERN REGION
IRANIAN MEDIA: 3 HUGE EXPLOSIONS WERE HEARD IN ISFAHAN, SOUTH OF TEHRAN
JERUSALEM POST: SIMULTANEOUS EXPLOSIONS REPORTED IN IRAN, SYRIA, AND IRAQ ACCORDING TO INITIAL REPORTS
IRAN'S FARS NEWS AGENCY SAYS EXPLOSIONS HEARD IN CENTRAL ISFAHAN AIRPORT, REASON UNKNOWN
ISRAELI MISSILES HIT IRAN SITE, US OFFICIAL SAYS: ABC
SUMMARY: Three large explosions heard in Isfahan south of Tehran, US officials confirm. The Natanz nuclear facility is located in Isfahan. Unconfirmed simultaneous explosions have also been reported in Syria and Iraq (Baghdad and Babil/Babylon province). Iran has established a no-fly-zone over its western region. Market reaction very strong: oil & gold soaring; TSY yields, crypto, and stocks tumbling.
Some more reports:
Iraqi Sources are reporting that the Airstrikes on the Capital of Baghdad have Targeted a Building in which a High-Ranking Meeting was taking place involving several Iranian-Backed Groups and Members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 19, 2024Explosions so far have been reported in the last few minutes near the Cities of Isfahan and Natanz in Central Iran, which both contain Significant Facilities for the Iranian Nuclear Program.
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 19, 2024The Natanz nuclear facility is located in Isfahan! https://t.co/OSSqWRCR2b
— EndGameWW3 (@EndGameWW3) April 19, 2024⚡️Iranian Outlet Fars:
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) April 19, 2024
An explosion was heard in the city of Qahjavaristan, Isfahan
Some local sources report that an explosion was heard in the city of Qahjavaristan in the northwest of Isfahan.
The cause of these noises is still unknown, and Fars reporter's follow-up…— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) April 19, 2024Here is Marco Rubio telling us more or less what happened:
Israel has the ability to conduct strikes against targets inside Iran without entering Iranian air space from aircraft over Syrian and Iraqi airspace
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) April 19, 2024A video of the explosions in Iran:
#BREAKING : Explosions so far have been reported in the last few minutes near the Cities of Isfahan and Natanz in ⛳️ Central Iran, which both contain Significant Facilities for the Iranian Nuclear Program.
— SHORT NEWS (@BuonJose11019) April 19, 2024
pic.twitter.com/xBPteeYA64There have also been reports of drone activity over Iraq:
Unconfirmed reports of drone activity over Baghdad, Iraq. pic.twitter.com/Dp9E1i28pv
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) April 19, 2024Flights above central Iran are diverting from their designations:
Two FlyDubai flights in central #Iran are diverting from their designated flight plans. Unclear why. pic.twitter.com/8Arh1zDaiC
— The Intel Crab (@IntelCrab) April 19, 2024... as the airspace over the region is rapidly clearing:
Aerial space is rapidly clearing and being diverted. pic.twitter.com/ScWfOwsZtV
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) April 19, 2024⚡️#BREAKING NOTAM over parts of Iran pic.twitter.com/aupFwGL2oy
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) April 19, 2024Unconfirmed reports suggest that the Israeli airstrikes are targeting a building where a high level meeting was being held among groups supported by Iran and the IRGC:
UNCONFIRMED: Iraqi sources report that airstrikes in the capital city of Baghdad have targeted a building where a high-level meeting was being held with the presence of several groups supported by Iran and members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
— Aleph א (@no_itsmyturn) April 19, 2024The market reaction has been immediate, with S&P futures dumping...
...testing key CTA liquidation levels...
... oil jumping... Below is the Bloomberg note:
Oil jumped on intensifying concerns about conflict in the Middle East, with Brent rallying above $89 a barrel in a sudden move higher.
The global benchmark reversed an early drop after unverified media reports of explosions in Iran, Syria and Iraq. Traders have been awaiting an Israeli response to Iran’s attack last weekend, with the rhetoric between the two escalating as the Islamic Republic warned against striking its nuclear facilities. Gold also spiked.
“Unconfirmed reports of strikes in the Middle East may suggest that worst fears have come true,” with traders having been braced for Israel’s response to Iran’s drone and missile attack, said Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy for ING Groep NV in Singapore.
“If reports turn out to be true — and depending on the nature of strikes — we are moving closer towards a scenario where supply risks become a reality, and so the market will likely have to start pricing in an even larger risk premium,” he added.
... and gold surging back above $2400...
...and Treasuries are aggressively bid...
And Bitcoin repricing WW3 again...
...as traders brace for the worst, because even if Israel hopes to present a "measured" retaliation, now it's a question of what Iran will do next.
More as we get it, until then, fear not: he is watching everything... closely.
