Key insights
- The White House stated the U.S. military is prepared to thwart potential attacks by Iran after threats from the IRGC against U.S. companies in the region. This geopolitical tension introduces downside risk for US equities, particularly in sectors sensitive to Middle East instability, such as energy and defense. Increased uncertainty could lead to a risk-off sentiment in the short term.
WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) - The White House said on Tuesday that the U.S. military was prepared to thwart any attacks by Iran, responding to threats by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps against U.S. companies in the region.
"The United States military is and was prepared to curtail any attacks by Iran, as evidenced by the 90 percent drop in ballistic missile and drone attacks by the terrorist regime," said a White House official, who did not wish to be named.
The IRGC said earlier on Tuesday that they would target U.S. companies in the region as of April 1 in retaliation for attacks on Iran, state media reported.
(Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington; Editing by Mark Porter)