According to Jin10, European natural gas prices paused after benchmark gas futures fell slightly following a 10% surge over the previous three trading days. Trump appeared to rule out the possibility of prolonged military action in the Middle East, raising market hopes for renewed talks and a recovery in energy supplies from the region. Trump said a new round of U.S. attacks on Iran could end "very soon" and again claimed Washington had control of the Strait of Hormuz. The latest conflict had driven energy prices sharply higher and revived market concerns about a prolonged war. Even so, European gas contract prices remained more than double prewar levels, and gas inventories stored in Europe for the coming winter were also unusually low, adding to worries about intensified global competition for gas supplies during the cold season.