Bitcoin held slightly above $67,000 on Saturday afternoon as President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, demanding the country reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face what he called “massive military consequences from the U.S.”
Operation Epic Fury Hits 9,000+ Targets as Trump Issues New Ultimatum
Trump posted the ultimatum on Truth Social on April 4, 2026, setting a deadline for Iran to either negotiate or fully clear the strait without threats. “All hell will break loose,” Trump wrote, echoing previous warnings that the administration claims Iran ignored.
The order comes six weeks after Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israel military campaign launched on Feb. 28, 2026. U.S. forces claim to have struck over 9,000 targets across Iran, including command centers, air defenses, ballistic missile locations, and naval assets. According to U.S. officials, Iran’s naval forces have been nearly neutralized and missile production severely weakened.
Iran responded by closing or disrupting the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint carrying roughly 20% of global oil shipments. Brent and WTI crude climbed above $100 to $110 per barrel due to the disruption, fueling inflation fears in global markets.
On Friday, Iran reportedly shot down a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle over southern Iran. U.S. special operations teams rescued the pilot using helicopters, but the weapons systems officer remains missing. Search and rescue operations continue in the remote and dangerous area. Support aircraft also came under fire during the rescue: an A-10 Warthog was hit by gunfire near the Strait of Hormuz (pilot recovered), and a Black Hawk helicopter was struck by small-arms fire but escaped with no crew fatalities.
Early Saturday, a projectile struck near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, the fourth recorded incident in the area. One security staff member was killed by projectile fragments. A building sustained damage from the shockwave and debris. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the incident after Iran submitted a notification. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said no radiation increase was detected but warned that attacks on or near nuclear facilities risk damaging safety equipment and should not occur.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) supported Trump’s stance on Saturday, saying that “a massive military operation awaits Iran” if the regime refuses to reopen the strait and pursue peace talks. “I had a good conversation with @POTUS,” Graham wrote. “I fully support his ultimatum to the Iranian regime to open the Strait of Hormuz and make a peace agreement. A massive military operation awaits Iran if they choose wrong. This regime has been severely crippled by Operation Epic Fury. Their reign of terror against the region and the world must end, hopefully through a peace agreement.”
Pakistan has moved into an active mediating role, leveraging its relationships with both Washington and Tehran. Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir engaged China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt on peace initiatives. Iran has denied some of the reported progress, and mutual denials have stalled talks.
Bitcoin Shows Resilience Amid Volatile Range
Bitcoin extended modest losses after the ultimatum, briefly dipping below $68,000 before trading around $67,000 by early Saturday afternoon. The digital asset fell toward its 2026 low near $65,834 following Trump’s earlier speech, but recovered and stayed above the $66,000 range in several recent sessions.
Since the start of Operation Epic Fury, bitcoin has traded in a volatile range of $65,000 to $71,000, often dropping on news of attacks and recovering on signs of a ceasefire. Analysts describe the performance as relative stability, noting that institutional flows and technical support near $65,000–$66,000 held while oil surged and equities retreated.
The 48-hour grace period, the ongoing search for the missing F-15E crew member, and the Bushehr incident remain immediate sources of tension. Without an agreement, markets expect more intense volatility heading into next week.