Donald Trump says Iran-related development will come soon, "something one way or another"

Oil prices jumped and U.S. stock indexes dropped Wednesday after the New York Times reported that American and Israeli officials had prepared plans for a brief, intense military operation in Iran once the midterm elections are over, following roughly a month without U.S. strikes there. Traders worried about escalation, and Washington directed nonessential civilian staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia; the State Department linked that move to Houthi attacks and denied a report that other Gulf embassies would be evacuated. Late Wednesday, Trump told reporters that an unspecified development involving Iran would occur soon. He had repeatedly said no strikes would happen before the midterms. Technology shares also fell as investors questioned heavy AI spending at Meta, Tesla and other firms.