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Heightened Middle East tensions, fueled by the U.S. embassy evacuation in Iraq and fears of an Israel-Iran clash, pushed BIST 30 index futures down about 1% in Wednesday’s evening session.
The decline reflected growing unease triggered by the U.S.' swift evacuation move, raising fears that a major conflict could further destabilize an already fragile market. In the evening session, the contract ended the day in negative territory at 10,808, marking a 106-point drop compared to the regular session. Although it remained above its 22-day moving average, it failed to sustain levels above the 50-day average, underscoring continued investor caution.
Tensions escalated after reports emerged that Washington was preparing to evacuate part of its diplomatic staff from Baghdad due to security concerns. In parallel, U.S. military families stationed in nearby countries such as Bahrain and Kuwait were reportedly authorized to leave, signaling a broader regional alert.
These developments were accompanied by elevated military readiness at American bases across the Gulf and warnings issued to U.S. tankers transiting the Persian Gulf.
Meanwhile, Israeli media outlets reported that Tel Aviv is weighing a potential military strike on Iran, further deepening fears of a regional confrontation. The possibility of open conflict between Israel and Iran has raised concerns over the stability of the Middle East, a region critical to global energy supplies.
As tensions mounted, Brent crude prices surged by over 4%, climbing above $69 per barrel and reflecting growing supply-side anxieties in energy markets.
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