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: 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

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, 2024

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.

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 19, 2024

The Natanz nuclear facility is located in Isfahan! https://t.co/OSSqWRCR2b

— EndGameWW3 (@EndGameWW3) April 19, 2024

Iranian Outlet Fars:

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…

— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) April 19, 2024

https://t.co/OpKd5MNdz4

— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) April 19, 2024

Here 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, 2024

A 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.
pic.twitter.com/xBPteeYA64

— SHORT NEWS (@BuonJose11019) April 19, 2024

There 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, 2024

Flights 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, 2024

Unconfirmed 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, 2024

The market reaction has been immediate, with S&P futures dumping…

…testing key CTA liquidation levels…

… oil jumping…

… 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.