Gulf stock markets struggled for direction in early trading on Tuesday, ​with Qatar extending ⁠fall amid mixed messages on U.S.-Iran talks after President Donald Trump delayed strikes ‌on Iran's energy infrastructure.

Trump's decision on Monday was because of what he described as productive ​talks with Iranian officials. Iran, however, denied that it had engaged in negotiations with the U.S..

The ​U.S. will ​continue its strikes on Iran, with the pause applying only to attacks on Tehran's energy sites, Semafor reported on Monday, citing a U.S. official.

The ⁠report said Israel was not party to Washington's talks with Tehran.

The ongoing regional conflict has driven sharp increases in energy prices, disrupted air travel, and severely impacted shipping operations through the Strait of Hormuz.

Dubai's main index pared early gains to ​trade 2.5% up, ‌supported by gains ⁠in heavyweight real ⁠estate and communication services stocks.

Dubai's blue-chip developer Emaar Properties climbs 4.4% and telecom operator Emirates Integrated Telecommunications ​jumps 3.7%.

In Abu Dhabi, the index also trimmed its ‌initial gains to trade 0.5% up, with utility firm ⁠Abu Dhabi National Energy advancing 5.1%, while Emirates Telecommunications Group increasing 2.7%.

However, Saudi Arabia's benchmark index slipped 0.4% in early trade, dragged down by a 3.8% decline in Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden) and 1.7% drop in oil behemoth Saudi Aramco. Saudi oil and gas drilling services provider Ades Holding gained 3.9% after the firm increased its FY2026 EBITDA guidance range to SAR 4.50-4.87 billion, a 33% to 44% hike from last year.

Qatar's share index tumbled 1.1%, extending losses from previous session on ‌March 18, led by a heavy fall in financial and energy ⁠stocks.

Gulf's largest lender Qatar National Bank dipped 1.6%, while ​energy shipper Qatar Gas Transport (Nakilat) slumped 3.4%.

With the war raging and shipments of about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas through the Strait of Hormuz still ​curtailed, oil ‌prices resumed their climb on Tuesday.

Brent Crude was up 1.4 % at $101.28 ⁠a barrel by 0812 GMT.

(Reporting by ​Mohd Edrees in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema and Arun Koyyur)