Asia-Pacific markets poised for mixed open as Iran deal faces scrutiny

Two men look at an electronic quotation board displaying the Nikkei 225 stock prices on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo on June 12, 2026. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | AFP | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets were set to trade mixed on Friday as investors assessed the durability of a U.S.-brokered peace agreement with Iran. Vice President JD Vance on Thursday defended President Donald Trump's interim peace agreement with Iran, arguing that the U.S. would not provide direct financial support to Tehran and that any economic relief would be contingent on Iran meeting its obligations under the deal. "The United States isn't giving up a cent of money to Iran," Vance said. "The only way the Iranians get any of these resources ... is if they comply fully" with the terms of the deal. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, likewise described the agreement as conditional, saying on Thursday that he approved the memorandum only after receiving guarantees that Iran's rights and the "resistance front" would be safeguarded. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 was set to open higher after notching a fresh record high on Thursday, with the futures contract in Chicago at 71,950 and Osaka at 72,030, higher than the index's last close of 71,053.49. Futures for Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 were at 8,854, lower than its last close of 8,911.1. China, Hong Kong and Taiwan markets are closed for a holiday. …