-- South Korean shares opened higher on Tuesday amid discussions between the US and Iran to hold a potential second in-person meeting before the agreed US-Iran ceasefire expires next week.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose 151.38 points or 2.6% to open at 5,960. The Kosdaq also increased 20.77 points or 1.88% to start trading at 1,120.61.
Discussions for the talk come after the US carried out a naval blockade on Iranian ports, which started at 10 a.m. ET on Monday. US President Donald Trump threatened Iranian ships that come near the blockade. Trump also said that other countries were offering to help with the blockade of Iranian ports, but he did not mention which countries.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov that "provocative" US actions in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz could threaten global peace. Lavrov said Russia is ready to help resolve the issue from the "unprovoked American-Israeli aggression against Iran."
In other news, Marco Rubio will join direct Israel-Lebanon talks on Tuesday at the US State Department, alongside Michel Issa and Michael Needham, with delegations led by ambassadors Yechiel Leiter and Nada Hamadeh.