BlockBeats reported on Aug. 8, citing people familiar with the matter, that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine has been looking for a path to pull the United States out of the Iran conflict. According to the report, three informed sources said that over the past several weeks Caine privately told other senior advisers to Donald Trump that Washington needs an exit route, arguing that the military options currently under discussion could backfire. The same sources said air power alone is unlikely to achieve Trump’s objectives. The report added that Caine discussed military options for escalating the conflict with several senior administration figures, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. During those conversations, he also raised possible ways to bring the fighting to an end. Separately, the report said Caine recently held private meetings with several like-minded Trump advisers before their meetings with the president in an effort to align their views. It also said that in a recent meeting with Trump, Caine voiced concern over shrinking U.S. weapons stockpiles, while the two also discussed potential escalation options.

Bitget UEX’s Aug. 5 market note tracked a broad cross-asset move driven by easing geopolitical expectations and softer rate pressure. CME FedWatch data showed the probability of no rate change by September rising to 41.6%, while the chance of a cumulative 25-basis-point hike fell to 58.4%. At the same time, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said an agreement tied to the Strait of Hormuz could be reached on Aug. 4 or 5, helping keep pressure on crude prices and easing near-term inflation concerns. U.S. equities extended their rally, with the Dow closing at 54,085.88, up 1.71%, and the S&P 500 at 7,736.52, up 1.79%, both at record highs. The Nasdaq rose 2.59% to 26,584.99. Palantir stood out after reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly results and raising full-year guidance, while Intel, AMD, Micron and SanDisk also advanced as semiconductor and storage shares rebounded. In crypto, BTC was quoted around $639,850, up 0.91%, while ETH traded near $1,863, up 0.65%. Total crypto market capitalization was about $2.28 trillion, with 24-hour liquidations at $204 million. The report also highlighted spot BTC ETF flows, Glassnode supply concentration around the $61,000-$63,000 area, and a packed macro and earnings calendar featuring SanDisk, Western Digital, Circle and upcoming U.S. labor data.

Foresight’s Aug. 5 market note argues that Bitcoin remains short on internal momentum even after rebounding from around $62,300 to the $63,800-$64,200 area. The report points to a simple contrast: U.S. equities rallied sharply, with the Dow closing at a record and the Nasdaq and S&P 500 posting strong gains, yet BTC added only about 1%. In the note’s view, that weak participation matters because it suggests crypto is not fully responding to a broader risk-on move. The analysis also says markets are reacting to expectations rather than confirmed facts on U.S.-Iran talks. U.S. officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, signaled progress and suggested a deal could come on Aug. 4 or Aug. 5, while Iranian sources said negotiations with عمان were still ongoing and no agreement had been finalized. The report argues that if a deal is not signed, oil could rebound and put Bitcoin under pressure. On positioning, the note highlights $64,200-$64,250 as the key resistance band. A volume-backed break could open room toward $65,500-$66,000. If that area continues to reject price, the report sees a higher chance of renewed consolidation or a pullback toward $63,000, and possibly $62,200-$62,500. It also notes spot BTC ETF inflows of $170.1 million versus a $11.4 million outflow from spot ETH ETFs as another sign of divergence inside crypto markets.

Treasury Secretary Bessent said the US and Iran could reach an agreement within a day or two to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Following a call between Trump and Qatar's emir, Iran's foreign ministry said talks with Oman made progress. Brent crude fell nearly 6% to $78.52, while WTI dropped below $76.

Diplomatic efforts tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz showed signs of progress on Aug. 5, with statements from Iran, Qatar and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pointing to movement in negotiations. Iranian officials said talks with Oman had made positive technical and political progress, while Qatar said a draft of a possible U.S.-Iran agreement was circulating among parties, though there was still no fixed schedule for direct talks and communication continued through intermediaries. Reports said an arrangement for a full reopening of the strait could be announced within hours or by the next day. At the same time, shipping risks remain elevated. Iraq said tankers carrying its crude had already passed through the waterway, but separate incidents involving an Indian vessel near Hodeidah and the Greek bulk carrier Minoa Pioneer underscored the continuing danger. The U.S. Central Command also disclosed commercial shipping adjustments as the broader regional conflict remained active, with developments involving Iran, the Houthis, Israel and Hezbollah all unfolding in parallel. Oil prices have recently pulled back as expectations for de-escalation increased.

Iran’s state-run Press TV reported on Aug. 4, citing a senior Iranian official, that the U.S. government is attempting to obstruct ongoing talks between Iran and Oman over management of the Strait of Hormuz. The official said the negotiations between Tehran and Muscat have entered a “new phase” despite what he described as U.S. interference. On the same day, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters at the State Department that the Strait of Hormuz is currently the most urgent and closely watched issue. Rubio said the United States is involved in the relevant dialogue and negotiations between Oman and Iran, with discussions focused on how to enable more ships to pass through the strait safely in the short term. The statements present two different public descriptions of Washington’s role in the talks while keeping the focus on shipping through the strategic waterway.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with Fox News that Iran is now more willing to negotiate on issues including its nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz after Washington’s military strikes. Rubio said the U.S. attacks destroyed Iran’s navy, air force, missile defense systems, launchers, and weapons production facilities, and had "severely degraded" the country’s defensive capabilities. At the same time, he said Iran still has missiles and drones and remains capable of causing damage. Rubio also argued that Iran no longer has the conventional shield it had intended to rely on, and said that shift is the only reason Tehran is now willing — and in some cases appears eager — to reach agreements on denuclearization and Strait-related matters. The remarks were cited by Odaily, which attributed the report to Jin10.

According to a Jin10 report citing an interview on Fox News, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran is now more willing to negotiate on issues including its nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz after Washington’s military strikes. Rubio said the U.S. attacks destroyed Iran’s navy, air force, and missile defense systems, and had "severely degraded" its defensive capacity. He added that Iran no longer has a "conventional shield," a change he said has altered the negotiating dynamic and made Tehran more open to reaching an agreement on denuclearization and the strait.