Trump Threatens Iran Nuclear Strike as Oil Surges, Bitcoin Slides

Renewed U.S. strikes on Iranian targets have revived concerns about Middle East energy supplies and the inflationary impact of higher crude prices. Rising inflation expectations can lift government bond yields and weigh on assets that generate no income, including Bitcoin. The cryptocurrency’s retreat alongside equity futures underscores its continuing sensitivity to broader risk sentiment and again tests claims that it can serve as a haven during geopolitical turmoil.

On September 2, Bitcoin fell more than 1% from midnight UTC and briefly slipped below $76,500, extending its seven-day decline to about 3%. Brent crude climbed above $93 a barrel as the conflict escalated, while West Texas Intermediate approached $90. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield moved toward 4.8% on renewed inflation concerns, and the Dollar Index gained 0.13%, adding pressure on cryptocurrency and equity markets.

Since the U.S.-Iran war began in late February 2026, threats from Tehran and its allied groups against President Donald Trump have become a central security concern. The Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8, valued at $400 million, had been rushed into presidential service but faced questions over whether it matched the older Air Force One aircraft’s anti-missile defenses and electromagnetic-pulse protection. The episode matters because a threat to the president’s aircraft could widen the conflict and rapidly reprice energy and risk assets.

U.S. officials said on July 24 that intelligence had uncovered a credible Iranian and proxy plot to fire a missile at Trump’s plane. The Secret Service had urged him to use the older aircraft when he left Ankara on July 8; that jet carries laser technology designed to blind incoming missiles. Escalating U.S.-Iran strikes and Houthi attacks on Saudi tankers also jolted markets. Brent settled at $100.69 a barrel on July 23, while Bitcoin fell 1.5% to $64,158.50 by 5:17 p.m. ET on July 24.

Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated again. U.S. President Donald Trump recently declared that the ceasefire memorandum between the two sides was formally over, directly affecting global energy supplies and financial markets. The development is critical because turmoil in the Middle East threatens shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and could trigger rapid shifts in capital as investors weigh safe-haven assets against geopolitical risk. It has become an important indicator for the outlook for crude oil and cryptocurrencies.

After Trump confirmed in mid-July that the ceasefire had collapsed, Brent crude immediately surged 6.4% in a single day. Global equities and cryptocurrencies tumbled at the same time, while Bitcoin fell below $63,000 amid sharp volatility, reflecting intense pressure on risk assets. Markets are now closely watching short-term safe-haven inflows into stablecoins and the extent of actual shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

US-Iran nuclear talks have implications for the Middle East and global energy shipments, with the Strait of Hormuz serving as a vital oil route. Conflict risks had driven up oil prices and demand for safe-haven assets, weighing on risk assets such as Bitcoin. A deal and the resumption of shipping would affect energy prices and cryptocurrency markets.

US President Donald Trump said a US-Iran nuclear agreement would be formally signed the following day and that the Strait of Hormuz would immediately reopen to all parties. The announcement sent oil prices lower and Bitcoin higher. The cryptocurrency touched an intraday high of $64,758 before climbing above $65,500 to a two-week high. However, Trump continued to warn of further strikes on Iran, leaving market risks not yet fully resolved.

The conflict between the United States and Iran has heightened geopolitical risks in the Middle East, while concerns over oil supplies and inflation weighed on global risk assets at one point. Bitcoin and crypto-related stocks such as Coinbase and Strategy are highly sensitive to liquidity and safe-haven sentiment, meaning signs of a ceasefire or negotiations are quickly reflected in cryptocurrency prices and U.S. equities.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in July that military operations against Iran were progressing better than expected and that a conflict initially projected to last four to five weeks could end early. He also said U.S.-Iran negotiations had made significant progress. The comments pushed Bitcoin back above $69,000, extended gains in crypto-related stocks and the broader U.S. equity market, and sent oil prices sharply lower.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned that the United States was prepared to bomb Iran, citing suspected covert transfers of Iranian missiles and the U.S. seizure of a vessel carrying Chinese materials. An escalation of the conflict in the Middle East could drive up oil and safe-haven asset prices while putting selling pressure on highly volatile risk assets such as Bitcoin.

Trump recently said the "clock is ticking" for action against Iran and rejected a proposal from Tehran. Iran's air-defense systems were subsequently reported to have intercepted hostile targets. U.S. crude futures briefly surged by $5 on the news, while Bitcoin fell below $76,000 and Ethereum dropped under $2,300. Crypto-related stocks including Coinbase and Robinhood also declined.

U.S. President Donald Trump publicly backed “regime change” in Iran for the first time, and the White House reposted the statement, signaling that Washington may be shifting from pressure toward political intervention. If conflict in the Middle East drives up energy prices, it could intensify global inflation and demand for financial safe havens while limiting the Federal Reserve’s scope to cut interest rates.

As of July 20, mounting geopolitical risks had fueled selling in crypto assets, pushing Bitcoin below $74,000. The situation also subjected Fed nominee Kevin Warsh, who holds crypto- and AI-related assets, to scrutiny over inflation and conflict-of-interest disclosures. Volatility in oil prices and risk assets will be a key variable shaping the path of interest rates.

The Strait of Hormuz carries a significant share of the world’s oil and natural gas shipments. A blockade could drive up energy prices and inflation while hurting risk appetite across financial markets. U.S. President Donald Trump has used the threat of military action to pressure Iran to reopen the waterway, leaving Bitcoin and other crypto assets once again sensitive to geopolitical developments and safe-haven capital flows.

Trump recently gave Iran a two-week deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face a possible attack, while also signaling a two-week ceasefire. Investors bet that the conflict would ease, lifting the total cryptocurrency market capitalization by about 2.5%. Bitcoin briefly rose to $69,500, triggering about $255 million in short liquidations across the market.

U.S. President Donald Trump raised his condition for a ceasefire with Iran to “unconditional surrender” and ruled out a separate deal, escalating risks surrounding the nuclear dispute, the regional conflict and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is a critical artery for global oil shipments. Concerns about military strikes or a blockade could drive up oil prices, the dollar and demand for safe-haven assets while weighing on risk assets such as bitcoin and stocks.

As of July 19, Trump had given Iran 48 hours to open the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power plants, adding that any retaliation would draw an “extremely hard” response. Bitcoin briefly fell below $69,200 and traded as low as about $68,000 after the announcement. Oil rose, while ether, solana and global equities also came under pressure.

The conflict in the Middle East has heightened risks to energy supplies and financial markets. U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision on whether to strike Iranian energy facilities has affected global oil prices, demand for safe-haven assets and crypto markets. Bitcoin had fallen more than 3% amid concerns over the conflict and a broader market selloff, underscoring the continued influence of geopolitical shocks on its short-term performance.

Trump said on July 19 that he would extend the pause on strikes against Iranian energy facilities by another 10 days, helping market sentiment recover slightly. Bitcoin subsequently pared its losses. Brent crude fell 2% to $109 a barrel, indicating that the risk premium had not fully dissipated.