Iran has strongly denied a media report claiming its intelligence ministry secretly contacted the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency to negotiate an end to the ongoing Middle East conflict. The state-linked Tasnim news agency dismissed the New York Times story as a "pure lie and psychological war."
Bloomberg reports that oil prices briefly rose after the denial, then gave back gains as traders refocused on the U.S. plan to escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. Shipments through the vital waterway have plunged since Israel and the U.S. struck Iran over the weekend. With both sides vowing to continue fighting, the risk of a protracted war is rising. Over 1,000 people—mostly Iranians—have been killed so far.
Bitcoin Surges Past $73K; Ethereum at $2,140
The denial did little to tame crypto bulls. Bitcoin broke above $73,000 in late trading, while Ethereum climbed to a high of $2,140. Some investors view Bitcoin as digital gold, betting that prolonged instability will drive demand for non-sovereign assets.
Clash of Views
Yet analysts caution that a long war could delay Fed rate cuts, tightening liquidity and eventually weighing on risk assets. For now, crypto prices remain tightly tied to headlines from the conflict zone, with volatility expected to stay elevated.