Key Headlines
1. Iran to revise the U.S.-Iran draft agreement based on its own position
2. Trump proposes tougher terms to pressure Iran into speeding up negotiations
3. EU reportedly considering a temporary freeze of the Russian oil price cap mechanism
4. Bowman: It is too early to assess the war's impact on inflation; temporary price shocks can be looked through
5. Bailey: A U.S.-Iran ceasefire would still leave considerable uncertainty
6. U.S. employment report expected to show steady job growth and an unchanged unemployment rate
Details
Iran to Revise the U.S.-Iran Draft Agreement Based on Its Own Position
According to Iran's Tasnim News Agency on May 31, a source familiar with the matter said that exchanges of draft agreement texts between Iran and the United States are still ongoing, and no provision has been finalized.
The source stated that Iran will submit revisions based on its own positions and interests. Responding to reports that U.S. President Donald Trump had proposed new amendments to the existing text, the source said that both sides are still exchanging drafts of a potential memorandum of understanding.
Iran, he added, will also present its own proposed revisions. From Tehran's perspective, the acceptability of any agreement depends entirely on whether the final text meets Iran's requirements. Amendments proposed by the United States do not mean that Iran will automatically accept them.
The source further noted that Iran is fully prepared for the possibility that no memorandum of understanding will ultimately be reached.
Trump Proposes Tougher Terms to Pressure Iran Into Speeding Up Negotiations
On May 30, several U.S. officials revealed that President Trump had significantly revised and tightened the terms of the proposed memorandum of understanding aimed at ending hostilities between the United States and Iran.
The revised document has reportedly been submitted to Iran for review. According to U.S. officials, the tougher terms are intended to increase pressure on Tehran, accelerate the negotiation process, and encourage Iran to accept the framework that had previously been presented to Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
Two U.S. officials also disclosed that Trump objected to provisions related to unfreezing Iranian assets held abroad.
As of now, neither the U.S. nor the Iranian government has publicly commented on the reported revisions.
EU Reportedly Considering a Temporary Freeze of the Russian Oil Price Cap Mechanism
Sources familiar with the matter said that, as the Middle East conflict enters its fourth month, the European Union is considering temporarily freezing its price cap mechanism on Russian oil.
Last year, the EU adopted a dynamic mechanism under which the price cap for Russia's Urals crude is automatically set every six months at 15% below the average market price. The current cap stands at $44.10 per barrel and is scheduled for reassessment later this summer.
Under the mechanism, European companies are prohibited from providing insurance, shipping, and related services for Russian oil sold above the cap.
Oil prices have surged sharply due to the conflict involving Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to sources, if the existing formula remains unchanged, the next review in July could raise the cap to at least $65 per barrel, above the $60 threshold previously agreed upon by the G7.
Other options reportedly under consideration include suspending the automatic adjustment mechanism until the end of the year due to extraordinary Middle East circumstances, or capping any increase at $60 per barrel to maintain alignment with the G7 framework.
The proposal would form part of the EU's latest sanctions package and represent the bloc's 21st round of sanctions since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The EU plans to finalize and formally present the package in June.
Bowman: It Is Too Early to Assess the War's Impact on Inflation
Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Bowman said in remarks on Friday that it is still too early to determine the inflationary impact of the conflict involving Iran, and policymakers should be willing to temporarily look through short-term price shocks.
She reiterated her support for the Federal Reserve's decision last month to retain language in its policy statement suggesting that further interest rate cuts remain possible.
"When considering the future path of monetary policy, I would like to gain a clearer understanding of the economic effects of the Middle East conflict and how persistent those effects may be," Bowman said.
"As long as our commitment to achieving our inflation objective remains credible, it is appropriate to look through temporary increases in inflation data that are primarily driven by higher energy prices."
Bailey: A U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Would Still Leave Considerable Uncertainty
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said on Friday that even if a 60-day ceasefire were achieved between the United States, Israel, and Iran, significant uncertainty would remain, and such an agreement would not automatically pave the way for interest rate cuts.
Bailey noted that a near-complete agreement would not materially alter his assessment of the risks the conflict poses to the U.K. economy, despite previous comments from U.S. officials that a deal was close to being reached.
"A 60-day ceasefire may help, but it does not fully resolve the issue," Bailey said. "Such an agreement would still leave uncertainty about what happens after those 60 days."
He added that while policymakers have not entirely ruled out a scenario in which energy prices fall quickly without affecting underlying inflation, central banks would need much stronger confidence that such a shock would be temporary before considering rate cuts.
U.S. Employment Report Expected to Show Continued Labor Market Strength
According to the median estimate from a Bloomberg survey of economists, the U.S. unemployment rate is expected to remain unchanged at 4.3% in May, while nonfarm payrolls are forecast to increase by 89,000.
Such a gain would push the three-month average pace of job growth to its highest level in more than a year, fueling debate over whether hiring momentum is beginning to accelerate.
Economists expect the healthcare sector to remain a key source of employment growth. Cyclical industries such as construction, leisure, and hospitality are also expected to rebound, supported in part by warmer weather over the past month.
Manufacturing employment may also receive a boost as consumers stockpile goods in anticipation of potential price increases linked to the conflict involving Iran.
Today's Focus
22:00 (UTC+8) U.S. May ISM Manufacturing PMI