This illustration taken on March 23, 2026 shows the flags of the United States and Iran.
Dado Ruvik | Reuters
Hello, my name is Hui Jie from Singapore. Welcome to another edition of CNBC’s Daily Open.
US President Donald Trump sent mixed signals over the weekend about a potential deal with Iran, calling talks “constructive” but also posting images of US forces attacking Iranian ships.
President Trump said the United States would not rush into a deal at a time when energy reserves are at risk of reaching the “red zone” this summer and Gulf states’ AI ambitions are stalled as the conflict drags on.
What you need to know today
US President Donald Trump has slammed critics on social media over his assessment of a potential deal with Iran, calling them “losers.”
According to MS Now, the deal being negotiated could open the Strait of Hormuz, end hostilities, unfreeze some Iranian assets and ensure further negotiations aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program.
Traders appeared hopeful of a positive outcome as Asian oil prices fell in Monday trading amid conflicting signals over a potential deal. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures fell nearly 5% to $91.79, while international benchmark Brent crude fell below $100 for the first time in a month to $98.33.
Peace talks face significant hurdles because the Iranian government has stockpiled enriched uranium in the country and is insistent on imposing tolls for passage through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. President Trump has said the United States is in no hurry to reach a deal.
The Middle East wars are testing investor confidence as the conflict drags on, raising questions about energy security and infrastructure resilience, and jeopardizing Gulf states’ economic plans to capitalize on the global AI boom.
Investment decisions for some data center projects in the region have been paused or delayed as the conflict continues.
Speaking of AI, South Korea’s vice prime minister said Friday that the wealth generated by AI must benefit the people, but also told CNBC’s Lisa Kim that the AI era raises concerns that the technology will exacerbate inequality and lead to job losses.
— Lim Huijie
And finally…
‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ is Disney’s worst Star Wars movie opening ever
Walt Disney’s “The Mandalorian and Grogu” opened Friday, marking the first time a new Star Wars movie has hit the big screen in seven years.
The film, based on the hit Disney+ show “The Mandalorian,” exceeded initial box office projections, reaching $82 million in domestic ticket sales in its first three days in theaters, according to estimates Sunday. Official numbers will be released on Monday.
“The Mandalorian and Grogu” exceeded the $80 million that most box office analysts expected, but has so far fallen short of 2018’s “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” which made $84 million, according to ComScore data. The film had the lowest opening ever for a Star Wars film during the era of Disney’s Star Wars.
