The evacuation order triggered a safe-haven rush! The US urgently ordered its citizens to evacuate from Iran, causing gold to rebound strongly by nearly 2%.
2026-02-06 14:17:12
Tensions are escalating as high-stakes diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran are set to take place in Oman on Friday (February 6). The U.S. has issued an urgent security alert advising its citizens to "leave Iran immediately." The notice, issued by the virtual U.S. embassy in Iran, warns Americans to make their own departure arrangements and not to rely on U.S. government assistance.
Geopolitical crisis “emergency escalation signals” spurred safe-haven buying, and spot gold rose in Asian and European trading sessions on Friday, currently trading around $4,870 per ounce, up about 2% on the day.
This warning comes as representatives from Washington and Tehran prepare for their first formal meeting since a major conflict is expected in 2025, but there is little indication of shared positions on the agenda.
The U.S. delegation is expected to include Special Envoy Steve Vitkov and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who are expected to meet with a team led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
This meeting marks the first formal dialogue between the two countries since June 2025 , when a 12-day war broke out between Iran and Israel, prompting a U.S. airstrike that severely damaged three of Iran’s main nuclear facilities.
However, significant disagreements over the format and location of the talks have cast a shadow over their prospects for success, and the possibility of U.S. military action remains. The negotiations were initially planned to take place in Istanbul, with Turkey acting as a key mediator alongside other regional powers such as Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday, Tehran requested a last-minute change to move the meeting to Oman and restrict attendance to only Iranian and U.S. officials.
The diplomatic maneuvering unfolds against a backdrop of escalating military pressure. The United States has been amassing troops in the Gulf region, and President Trump has recently adopted a tougher rhetoric, threatening military action against Tehran if it fails to meet a series of demands.
According to reports, the key demands of the US government include:
Completely dispose of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile;
Strict restrictions were imposed on Tehran's ballistic missile program;
Stop providing weapons and funding to armed groups throughout the Middle East.
Iran has rejected the terms , calling them an unacceptable violation of its national sovereignty. Tehran has warned that it will retaliate forcefully against U.S. military targets in the region and against Israel should an attack be launched .
The current stalemate has been further complicated by the situation within Iran. Earlier in 2026, nationwide protests in Iran triggered an escalation of tensions, which the government responded with a harsh crackdown. As of Wednesday, at least 6,883 people had reportedly died.
Although President Trump had previously threatened to intervene in support of the protesters, he ultimately did not take military action at the time.
The US's "emergency evacuation warning" to Iran and the ensuing high-risk talks have an immediate, substantial, and lasting impact on gold .
In the short term, this is the "trigger" that sparked safe-haven buying of gold, directly driving up gold prices. In the medium to long term, it reveals the deep and unsolvable contradictions between the US and Iran, and this structural risk will provide gold with a continuous "risk premium."
Against the backdrop of global instability and escalating great power rivalry, events like the Iranian crisis constantly remind the market that gold is not merely an inflation hedge, but also a "strategic insurance" against international system disorder and military conflict. This deepening understanding will fundamentally help raise the long-term valuation of gold.
(Spot gold daily chart, source: FX678)
At 14:16 Beijing time, spot gold was trading at $4,866.51 per ounce.
Geopolitical crisis “emergency escalation signals” spurred safe-haven buying, and spot gold rose in Asian and European trading sessions on Friday, currently trading around $4,870 per ounce, up about 2% on the day.
This warning comes as representatives from Washington and Tehran prepare for their first formal meeting since a major conflict is expected in 2025, but there is little indication of shared positions on the agenda.
High-risk talks fraught with uncertainty
The U.S. delegation is expected to include Special Envoy Steve Vitkov and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who are expected to meet with a team led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
This meeting marks the first formal dialogue between the two countries since June 2025 , when a 12-day war broke out between Iran and Israel, prompting a U.S. airstrike that severely damaged three of Iran’s main nuclear facilities.
However, significant disagreements over the format and location of the talks have cast a shadow over their prospects for success, and the possibility of U.S. military action remains. The negotiations were initially planned to take place in Istanbul, with Turkey acting as a key mediator alongside other regional powers such as Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday, Tehran requested a last-minute change to move the meeting to Oman and restrict attendance to only Iranian and U.S. officials.
The core controversy that triggered the deadlock
The diplomatic maneuvering unfolds against a backdrop of escalating military pressure. The United States has been amassing troops in the Gulf region, and President Trump has recently adopted a tougher rhetoric, threatening military action against Tehran if it fails to meet a series of demands.
According to reports, the key demands of the US government include:
Completely dispose of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile;
Strict restrictions were imposed on Tehran's ballistic missile program;
Stop providing weapons and funding to armed groups throughout the Middle East.
Iran has rejected the terms , calling them an unacceptable violation of its national sovereignty. Tehran has warned that it will retaliate forcefully against U.S. military targets in the region and against Israel should an attack be launched .
Military expansion and internal pressure
The current stalemate has been further complicated by the situation within Iran. Earlier in 2026, nationwide protests in Iran triggered an escalation of tensions, which the government responded with a harsh crackdown. As of Wednesday, at least 6,883 people had reportedly died.
Although President Trump had previously threatened to intervene in support of the protesters, he ultimately did not take military action at the time.
Safe-haven buying pours into gold
The US's "emergency evacuation warning" to Iran and the ensuing high-risk talks have an immediate, substantial, and lasting impact on gold .
In the short term, this is the "trigger" that sparked safe-haven buying of gold, directly driving up gold prices. In the medium to long term, it reveals the deep and unsolvable contradictions between the US and Iran, and this structural risk will provide gold with a continuous "risk premium."
Against the backdrop of global instability and escalating great power rivalry, events like the Iranian crisis constantly remind the market that gold is not merely an inflation hedge, but also a "strategic insurance" against international system disorder and military conflict. This deepening understanding will fundamentally help raise the long-term valuation of gold.
(Spot gold daily chart, source: FX678)
At 14:16 Beijing time, spot gold was trading at $4,866.51 per ounce.
- Risk Warning and Disclaimer
- The market involves risk, and trading may not be suitable for all investors. This article is for reference only and does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it take into account certain users’ specific investment objectives, financial situation, or other needs. Any investment decisions made based on this information are at your own risk.
