The dollar index traded near 99 on Wednesday, holding gains from the previous session as mounting uncertainty over the Middle East conflict bolstered demand for the safe-haven currency. The Trump administration sent mixed signals on the Iran war, with President Donald Trump saying the conflict could end soon amid mounting market pressure, while senior officials indicated that military operations were intensifying and diplomatic talks remained unlikely. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards dismissed Trump’s claims, warning that the blockade would continue until US and Israeli attacks cease. Meanwhile, oil prices declined further after reports that the International Energy Agency proposed the largest release of oil reserves in its history to help stabilize markets. Investors now turn to a key US inflation reading that could provide insight into recent price trends, though it is not yet expected to capture the impact of the Iran war.