03:10 PM EDT, 03/24/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes were mixed ahead of Tuesday's close amid confusion about the state of truce talks with Iran, belying market expectations following President Donald Trump's messaging.

The Nasdaq Composite declined 0.5% to 21,839.2, while the S&P 500 slipped less than 0.1% to 6,578.7, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.2% to 46,295.5.

Energy, materials, and utilities were among the gainers, while communication services led the decliners.

CNN reported Tuesday, citing an unnamed Israeli official, that a deal to end the Iran war "does not appear to be tangible right now," as another wave of strikes was carried out across Iran while Tehran launched attacks on Tel Aviv.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures jumped 4.5% to $92.12.

Most US Treasury yields rose, with the 10-year up four basis points to 4.38% and the two-year higher by 6.4 basis points to 3.90%.

On Monday, all three US mainstream indexes jumped after Trump said in a social media post that the US will not attack Iran's energy infrastructure for five days amid "very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East."

An Iranian source told CNN there had been "outreach" between the US and Tehran and that Iran is willing to listen to "sustainable" proposals to end the war, according to a report Tuesday. Other countries are pushing for a diplomatic solution, with Pakistan offering to host talks involving Iran, Israel, and the US, the news report added.