Breaking: CENTCOM Denies Iranian Strikes on US Warships, Bitcoin Pares Gains
Highlights
- U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected Iranian claims of strikes on US Navy warships on Monday.
- Bitcoin falls 2% as oil prices jumps amid geopolitical tensions as US-Iran peace talks skeptical.
- Iran warns US of attacks amid Trump's Project Freedom, with US Navy also changing its rules of engagement.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Monday rejected Iranian claims of strikes on US Navy warships in the Strait of Hormuz, but tensions remain high amid Trump’s “Project Freedom.” Bitcoin pared earlier gains as oil prices surged 3% amid Iran’s claimed firing of two missiles on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Rejects Iran’s Claim of Hitting Warships
Iranian state media reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) hit a US warship with two missiles to prevent it from entering the Strait of Hormuz.
As a result, oil prices jumped more than 3% on May 4, causing Bitcoin and the broader crypto market to pare earlier gains. BTC price is currently trading at $78,802, retracing more than 2% from $80,596 highs.
However, U.S. Central Command denied any strikes on its warships in an X post as Iran’s strikes on US Navy news impacted futures prices on US stock exchanges.
“No U.S. Navy ships have been struck. U.S. forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports,” CENTCOM added.
Both Warns Attacks on Vessels Entering Strait of Hormuz
Iran has warned it will attack US Navy ships if they enter the Strait of Hormuz. This comes hours after President Donald Trump announced a plan to ‘guide’ stranded vessels through the waterway under the “Project Freedom.”
Moreover, Iran warned that US interference could violate any potential ceasefires and may escalate the tensions. The stalled US-Iran peace talks have sparked concerns among investors amid the global energy crisis.
Meanwhile, the US has changed its rules of engagement in the region. American forces are now authorized to strike immediate threats to ships transiting the Strait, including IRGC fast boats and Iranian missile positions.
🚨A U.S. official said the rules of engagement for U.S. forces in the region have been changed and they were authorized to strike immediate threats against ships that cross the strait, like IRGC fast boats or Iranian missile positions https://t.co/yzebKR0CJ1
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) May 4, 2026
The crypto community eyes a rebound in Bitcoin as CENTCOM denied claims of strikes on US Navy warships. Experts such as 10x Research and BIT predicted further upside in Bitcoin as it triggered the first bull market signals. As CoinGape reported, a top analyst even believe Bitcoin price could hit $96K this week.
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