The U.S. dollar firmed on Thursday after Reuters reported that Iran’s supreme leader has issued a directive that the country’s near-weapons-grade uranium should not be sent abroad, potentially complicating talks on ending the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. The dollar tends to rise when tensions flare in the Middle East, as higher oil prices weigh on oil-dependent economies such as Japan and the euro area, while safe-haven demand for the greenback increases.
The dollar rose 0.2% against the yen to 159.110 yen after falling for the first time in eight sessions against the yen on Wednesday. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday had said negotiations with Tehran were in the final stages, while also warning of further attacks if Iran does not agree to a deal. The dollar index has been largely steady so far in May, rising just 0.1%, with broader currency markets relatively calm…
