US stock futures slipped on Thursday as investors tracked developments in the Middle East amid persistent uncertainty over efforts to end the war with Iran. The White House said negotiations remain underway, with the Trump administration reportedly sending a 15-point proposal to Iran via Pakistan in a bid to resolve the conflict. Senior Iranian officials are reviewing the US plan but have indicated no willingness to enter direct talks with Washington. Tehran has said it will reject a US-backed ceasefire, instead putting forward its own five-point proposal that asserts sovereign control over the Strait of Hormuz.
On Wednesday, the Dow rose 0.66%, the S&P 500 gained 0.54%, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.77%, supported by a pullback in oil prices amid hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough. Investors are now awaiting Thursday’s release of weekly jobless claims for fresh insight into labor market conditions.
