Indian Markets Fall on US-Iran Tensions, Crude Oil Prices

Indian equity markets fell on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, as a renewed escalation in the US-Iran standoff and elevated crude oil prices weighed on investor sentiment. The benchmark BSE Sensex declined by 139.96 points to trade at 77,235.23, while the NSE Nifty 50 fell 66.75 points to 24,162.50 during the session. The downturn followed a previous session where both indices closed lower, with the Sensex settling at 77,369.11 on Monday, August 24.

The market weakness was attributed to the announcement of a new US sanctions campaign against Iran, described by officials as an "Economic D-Day." This move marks an intensification of economic pressure on Tehran and follows the expiry of a 60-day ceasefire window, with no further talks currently planned. The geopolitical tension has heightened concerns over crude oil supplies and contributed to market volatility. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, traded 0.35 percent higher at $92.49 per barrel.

Analysts noted that the market action was further complicated by the monthly expiry of Nifty 50 derivatives contracts, which typically adds to volatility. "Indian markets are expected to witness heightened volatility as weakness across global...