Iran Threatens Strait of Hormuz Closure Amid US Military Build-up Bitcoin Drops 1.87%

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated rapidly, with the Iranian Parliament approving a bill to close the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. This decision requires the approval of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council to be fully implemented. A member of the National Security Committee of the Iranian Parliament stated that the Revolutionary Guards are prepared to close the strait if necessary.

In response, the US and Israel have made significant moves. Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated that Iran's nuclear program had not been completely eliminated but had suffered serious damage. Herzog also emphasized that they did not want to draw the US into a war. The Pentagon has accelerated the deployment of a second aircraft carrier group to the region, with the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and its accompanying destroyers expected to arrive next week. Washington plans to keep two aircraft carrier groups in the Middle East for at least a month.

US President Donald Trump announced that a successful bombardment had been carried out on three nuclear facilities in Iran, claiming that these facilities had been “destroyed.” Israel stated that they had acted in “full coordination” with the US in these attacks, while Iranian officials acknowledged that the facilities had been hit but claimed that there were no serious casualties. A US official noted that Iran still has the military capacity to attack US forces in the Middle East.

These geopolitical tensions have had a significant impact on the cryptocurrency market. In the last hour, Bitcoin fell by 1.87% to $100,718, while Ethereum lost 3.1% to $2,197. The escalating situation between Israel and Iran has caused investors to adopt a more cautious approach, leading to a significant drop in the prices of Bitcoin and other altcoins. The reduced geopolitical tensions, as indicated by a delay in US military action in the Israel-Iran conflict, have provided some relief to the cryptocurrency market, with Bitcoin trading around $106,000. However, the overall market sentiment remains fragile, with many long-term investors remaining cautious. The situation highlights the sensitivity of cryptocurrency markets to geopolitical risks, as investors closely monitor developments that could impact their investments.