Iran’s Revolutionary Guard fired several ballistic missiles at US air bases and military installations in Jordan. The US claimed to have intercepted all incoming missiles, with no immediate casualties reported. However, the scale of the attack immediately prompted severe warnings. Donald Trump vowed retaliation, stating, “So it’s our turn. We’re going to hit them very hard.”
News of the military strike quickly rippled through global financial markets, hitting major indices. The Dow Jones fell 2.14%, the S&P 500 dropped 1.50%, and the Nasdaq lost 1.68%. US stocks tumbled amid a mix of panic over surging oil prices, escalating Middle East conflict, and concerns surrounding artificial intelligence spending.
Tensions Along Major Trade Routes
In the energy commodities sector, oil prices spiked sharply. Traders’ primary concerns focused on potential supply disruptions at critical maritime chokepoints, particularly the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb region. The impact of these fears was immediately felt at sea. On Wednesday, only five commodity vessels crossed the Bab el-Mandeb strait, plunging sharply from 39 ships the day before. At the same time, US crude inventory data showed a 7.2 million barrel draw to 404.5 million - marking the lowest inventory level since 2018.
The conflict also spilled beyond Jordan. Saudi Arabia reportedly launched strikes against Iran-affiliated Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq, killing 20 members. On the financial enforcement front, regulatory pressure on Iranian logistics operations has intensified. The US Treasury issued new sanctions against two companies linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) operating mandatory maritime insurance schemes in the Strait of Hormuz. Both entities were found to have accepted Bitcoin payments to evade Western sanctions. Since early 2026, US authorities have sanctioned more than 100 vessels suspected of ties to Iran’s shadow fleet.
Bitcoin Price Divergence
Initial market panic dragged digital assets lower, with Bitcoin falling below $64,000 shortly after reports of the Iranian attack surfaced. However, the asset reversed course, decoupling from the broader stock market decline.
Bitcoin gradually rebounded toward $64,435. The recovery occurred right after the US Federal Reserve announced its decision to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged in the 3.50% to 3.75% target range. The decision noted that three of the 12 Fed officials voted in favor of a 25-basis-point rate hike. For crypto investors, this two-way price action serves as a reminder that geopolitical shocks can trigger short-term market pressure, but broader control remains in the hands of monetary policy.
Reported by crypto.news.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
