Key Takeaways:
President Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran on April 4, 2026, demanding Hormuz be reopened, or army motion would comply with. Bitcoin held close to $67,000 as U.S.-Iran tensions escalated, with Operation Epic Fury hanging over 9,000 targets since February 28. Pakistan is mediating talks alongside China and Saudi Arabia, however Iran rejected key overtures because the deadline clock runs down.
Operation Epic Fury Targets 9,000+ Websites as Trump Points New Iran Ultimatum
Trump posted the ultimatum on Fact Social on April 4, 2026, setting a deadline for Iran to achieve a deal or totally clear the strait with out threats. “All hell will reign down,” Trump wrote, in language matching prior warnings that the administration mentioned Iran had ignored.
The order comes six weeks into Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli army marketing campaign launched Feb. 28, 2026. U.S. forces declare to have struck greater than 9,000 targets throughout Iran, together with command facilities, air defenses, ballistic missile websites, and naval belongings. Iranian naval forces are largely neutralized, and missile manufacturing has been severely degraded, in accordance with U.S. officers.
Iran closed or disrupted the Strait of Hormuz in response, a chokepoint that carries roughly 20% of world oil shipments. Brent and WTI crude have climbed above $100 to $110 a barrel on the disruption, pushing inflation issues throughout world markets.
On Friday, Iranian forces allegedly shot down a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle over southern Iran. U.S. particular operations groups rescued the pilot utilizing helicopters. The weapons programs officer stays lacking. Search-and-rescue operations are ongoing in distant, hostile terrain.
Supporting plane had been additionally hit through the rescue. An A-10 Warthog got here beneath fireplace close to the Strait of Hormuz; its pilot was recovered. A Black Hawk helicopter took small-arms fireplace however escaped with out crew casualties.
Early Saturday, a projectile struck close to Iran’s Bushehr nuclear energy plant, the fourth reported incident on the website. One safety workers member was killed by projectile fragments. A constructing sustained a shockwave and fragment harm.
The Worldwide Atomic Power Company confirmed the incident after Iran filed a notification. IAEA Director Normal Rafael Mariano Grossi acknowledged that no radiation improve had been detected however warned that assaults on or close to nuclear services threat damaging security gear and should not happen.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) backed Trump’s place Saturday, stating {that a} “huge army operation awaits Iran” if the regime refuses to reopen the strait and pursue peace talks.
“I simply had an ideal dialog with @POTUS,” Graham wrote. “I completely help his ultimatum to the Iranian regime to open up the Strait of Hormuz and to do a peace deal. A large army operation awaits Iran in the event that they select poorly. This regime has been severely crippled via Operation Epic Fury. Their reign of terror towards the area and the world wants to come back to an finish, hopefully via a peace deal.”
Pakistan has moved into an energetic mediator function, drawing on ties with each Washington and Tehran. Pakistani Military Chief Asim Munir has coordinated with China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt on peace initiatives. Iran has denied a few of the reported progress, and mutual rejections have stalled talks.
Bitcoin prolonged modest losses following the ultimatum, briefly falling under $68,000 earlier than buying and selling round $67,000 by early afternoon Saturday. The digital asset dropped towards a 2026 low close to $65,834 following an earlier Trump deal with, however recovered and has held above the $66,000 vary throughout a number of periods in current instances.
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Since Operation Epic Fury started, bitcoin has traded in a risky vary of $65,000 to $71,000, typically dipping on strike information and rebounding on ceasefire indicators. Analysts describe the efficiency as relative resilience, noting that institutional flows and technical help close to $65,000 to $66,000 have held as oil climbed and equities pulled again.
The 48-hour window, the continued seek for the lacking F-15E crew member, and the Bushehr incident are the instant flashpoints. If no deal materializes, markets anticipate heightened volatility heading into subsequent week.
