CNBC Daily Open: Trump keeps the world guessing with mixed messaging on Iran deal

Hello, this is Hui Jie writing to you from Singapore. Welcome to another edition of CNBC’s Daily Open.

Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump sent mixed signals about a potential deal with Iran, calling the talks “constructive,” while also posting images of U.S. military striking Iranian ships.

Trump said that Washington will not rush into a deal at a time when energy stockpiles risk hitting the “red zone” this summer, and Gulf nations’ AI ambitions stall as the conflict drags on.

U.S. President Donald Trump has lashed out at critics on social media, calling them “losers,” over their assessment of his potential deal with Iran.

According to MS Now, the deal being negotiated could open the Strait of Hormuz, end the hostilities, unfreeze certain Iranian assets and guarantee further negotiations aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear program.

Amid conflicting signals over a possible deal, traders seem hopeful of a positive outcome, with oil prices falling in Asia trading Monday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures dipped almost 5% to $91.79, while international benchmark Brent fell below the $100 mark in over a month to $98.33.

Peace talks face a key hurdle in Tehran’s insistence on keeping enriched uranium stockpile within the country and levying tolls for passage via the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Trump has said that Washington will not rush into a deal.

The Middle East war has jeopardized Gulf nations economic plans aimed at riding the global AI boom, as an extended conflict tests investor confidence, raising questions over energy security and infrastructure resilience.

Investment decisions into some data center projects in the region have been paused or are taking longer as the conflict continues.

Speaking of AI, South Korea’s deputy prime minister said on Friday that AI-derived wealth must benefit the public, while also telling CNBC’s Lisa Kim that the AI era has raised concerns over whether the technology could worsen inequality and lead to job losses.

— Lim Hui Jie

‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ is Disney’s lowest-ever Star Wars film opening

Walt Disney’s “The Mandalorian and Grogu” opened on Friday, marking the first time in seven years that a new Star Wars film has launched on the big screen.

Sunday estimates indicated that the film, based on the hit Disney+ show “The Mandalorian,” surpassed initial box office projections, tallying $82 million in domestic ticket sales through its first three days in theaters. Official numbers will be released on Monday.

While “The Mandalorian and Grogu” outpaced the $80 million that most box office analysts predicted, it has so far tallied less than 2018′s “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” which at $84 million was the previous lowest-opening Star Wars project in the era of Disney Star Wars releases, according to data from Comscore.