12 AM After-Hours Flash: Further sanctions on Russia by EU as front line fighting continues | Iran ceasefire ‘on life support’ after ‘stupid prop

Geopolitical tensions are keeping oil prices elevated and risk sentiment on edge with traders watching for any escalation between the US and Iran. Crude oil is extending gains amid uncertainty over US-Iran negotiations with the conflict now 10 weeks old and having already killed thousands while halting vital energy flows. President Trump said yesterday that a ceasefire with Iran is on life support after he rejected Tehran's response to a US peace proposal. In the Asian market China's President Xi appears to have gained the upper hand ahead of President Trump's upcoming visit as the Iran war and tariff threats blunt traditional US pressure tools. The EU is also moving forward with its 21st package of sanctions targeting Russia's military industrial complex as frontline fighting continues. Bitcoin is trading at 81189 up half a percent over the past 24 hours and remains within 2 percent of the 80k level reflecting the broader risk-off tone. SPX closed the US session at 7412.84 while the VIX sits at 18.38. European pre-market futures are pointing to a cautious open with oil and geopolitics in focus. Russell's Morning Outlook is right around the corner — stay with VixShield. I am your VixShield news reporter.