Iran accuses US of “war crimes” as Strait of Hormuz tensions rattle crypto markets Iran’s Foreign Ministry escalated its rhetoric on Sunday, accusing the United States of committing war crimes by imposing what it called an unlawful naval blockade of Iranian ports and coastline — a charge that came hours after President Donald Trump said Tehran had fired shots in the Strait of Hormuz and violated a brokered ceasefire. Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei posted the accusation on X, saying the US measures not only breach the Pakistan-mediated ceasefire but also violate international law. Baqaei cited Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and referenced a 1974 UN General Assembly text that identifies naval blockades as acts of aggression. He added that the blockade amounts to collective punishment of Iranian civilians, language that under international law can be classified as war crimes or crimes against humanity. Trump, speaking to reporters, said Iran’s alleged firing in the Strait of Hormuz was “a serious violation” of the ceasefire, which was due to expire Wednesday, April 22. He also expressed confidence that a deal could still be reached, telling ABC News correspondents: “It will happen. One way or another. The nice way or the hard way.” The public back-and-forth represents a direct diplomatic contradiction — each side effectively accusing the other of breaking the truce — and the fallout reached financial markets quickly. Bitcoin eased from a session high of $76,250 to about $75,400 on Sunday after news of the flare-up spread. The move was modest but notable, underscoring how sensitive crypto has become to geopolitical headlines during this conflict. This recent volatility fits a clear pattern. Earlier in April, Bitcoin surged past $78,000 after Trump announced Iran had agreed to suspend its nuclear program; prices reversed sharply when Tehran denied that claim, triggering further swings. Optimism about a diplomatic settlement has repeatedly pushed crypto higher, while setbacks or signs of collapse drag it back down. At the center of the standoff is the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest shipping chokepoints. Reports say Iran briefly reopened the strait following a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, only to close it again this week — a development that, combined with threats of tougher action from Trump if talks fail, is keeping global markets and crypto traders on edge. Featured image: BESA; chart: TradingView. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news