The United States military launched targeted strikes against Iranian military installations on June 10 and 11, marking the most severe escalation since the April 2026 ceasefire collapsed. President Trump confirmed the operations, vowing continued action after Iran downed a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz and attacked American bases across the Gulf region.
Central Command deployed 49 Tomahawk missiles against Iranian radar and surveillance sites, classifying the campaign as self-defense. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the show of force aims to compel Tehran back to diplomatic negotiations.
The geopolitical flare-up immediately impacted global markets. Crude oil surged more than two percent, while Bitcoin plummeted to a six-week low below $73,000 as investors rotated out of risk assets. Market strategists warn that rising energy costs could reignite inflation, potentially tightening Federal Reserve policy and draining liquidity. While Bitcoin staged a partial recovery as institutional buyers absorbed the dip, prolonged military posturing in the Strait of Hormuz-a critical chokepoint handling twenty percent of global oil transit-promises sustained volatility for digital assets and broader financial markets.