Australian Dollar loses traction as US launches self-defence strikes on southern Iran

The AUD/USD pair trades in negative territory around 0.7165 during the Asian trading hours on Tuesday. The Australian Dollar (AUD) declines against the US Dollar (USD) as renewed tensions between the US and Iran weigh on risk-sensitive currencies.  

The US Central Command said on Monday that it launched new strikes on southern Iran, targeting Iranian missile sites and boats attempting to place mines, per BBC. The US military added that the strikes were taken in "self-defense" and were designed "to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.”

The attacks came as Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai said some progress has been made in talks with the US, but a deal to end the conflict "is not imminent.” Uncertainty surrounding the US-Iran peace negotiations could boost a safe-haven currency such as the Greenback and drag the pair lower in the near term. 

Australia’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation report will be released on Wednesday. The headline CPI is expected to show a rise of 4.4% YoY in April, compared to 4.6% in March. On a monthly basis, the CPI is projected to show an increase of 0.6% in April, versus 1.1%. Any signs of hotter inflation in Australia could lift the Aussie against the USD.