Trump Says Iran Conflict Over, Nasdaq Sets Record High, Bitcoin Climbs 2.5%

Key Takeaways:

• Trump declared U.S.-Iran hostilities “terminated” connected May 1, bypassing the War Powers Resolution’s 60-day authorization deadline.
• Bitcoin climbed 2.52% adjacent $79,000 earlier today, present astatine $78,311 per coin, arsenic the Nasdaq deed a grounds supra 25,000 connected beardown net and easing lipid prices.
• Iran’s latest atomic woody proposal, delivered via Pakistani mediators, was rejected by Trump, leaving negotiations unresolved.

War Powers Clock Reset: Trump Says U.S.-Iran Hostilities Are Over arsenic Markets Rally

Trump sent a formal letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate President pro tempore Chuck Grassley connected May 1, 2026, stating that the hostilities opening connected Feb. 28, 2026, “have terminated.” The White House utilized the declaration to reason that nary caller legislature authorization is required for the existent U.S. subject posture successful the Middle East.

The struggle began erstwhile the United States, coordinating with Israeli strikes, launched subject operations against Iran successful what immoderate reports called “Operation Epic Fury.” The strikes targeted Iranian atomic facilities, rocket programs, subject infrastructure, and enactment sites. Iran retaliated and concisely threatened the Strait of Hormuz. Trump formally notified Congress of the hostilities connected March 2, 2026, starting the War Powers clock.

A ceasefire took effect connected April 7, 2026, and has since been extended. No nonstop exchanges of occurrence betwixt U.S. and Iranian forces person occurred since. The U.S. has maintained a naval blockade to restrict Iranian lipid exports, portion negotiations for a imperishable woody person continued done third-party mediators, including Pakistan.

Trump told reporters this week that Iran had delivered a caller connection but said helium was “not satisfied with it,” describing Iran’s enactment arsenic “very disjointed” and “fractured.” He outlined 2 paths forward: a negotiated woody oregon subject escalation, adding that helium would “prefer not” the second “on a quality basis” but near the enactment open. Trump besides called the War Powers Resolution “unconstitutional,” a position helium has held previously.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had previewed the ineligible mentation the time earlier successful Senate testimony, arguing the ceasefire efficaciously pauses the 60-day clock. A elder medication authoritative said: “For [War Powers Resolution] purposes, the hostilities that began connected Saturday, Feb. 28, person terminated.”

Democrats pushed back. Sen. Tim Kaine argued the U.S. naval blockade constitutes ongoing hostilities and that the mentation stretches the law. Senate Republicans blocked Democratic efforts to unit a ballot connected authorization. Congress adjourned without acting.

Markets responded to the easing geopolitical signals and a beardown net season. The Nasdaq Composite closed astatine 25,114, up 222 points and a grounds high. The S&P 500 gained 21 points to adjacent astatine 7,230, portion the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 153 points to 49,499. More than 80% of S&P 500 companies reporting this play bushed net estimates. Oil prices pulled back, with Brent crude settling adjacent $108 per barrel and WTI adjacent $99.55, down astir 2.6% connected the day.

Nasdaq Composite connected May 1, 2026.

Gold held successful the $4,580 to $4,636 per ounce range, reflecting persistent safe-haven request tied to inflation concerns and ongoing Middle East uncertainty. Silver traded adjacent $72 to $75 per ounce. Both metals stay astatine historically elevated levels.

Bitcoin stood astatine astir $78,311, up 2.52% connected the time astatine Wall Street’s close, arsenic broader risk-on sentiment lifted equities and crypto successful tandem. Bitcoin’s marketplace dominance held adjacent 60%. Ethereum gained 1.88% to $2,303. Other top performers successful the 24-hour model included hyperliquid (HYPE), up 4.04%, and dogecoin (DOGE), up 2.96%. Most of the apical 20 crypto assets saw gains.

The U.S. system grew astatine a 2.0% annualized complaint successful Q1 2026, rebounding from 0.5% maturation successful Q4 2025. Business investment, user spending, and artificial quality (AI)-related tailwinds supported the expansion. The Federal Reserve held its people complaint dependable astatine 3.50% to 3.75%, citing elevated uncertainty from Middle East developments and inflation moving supra the 2% target. Trump has tied the conflict’s afloat solution to little vigor costs, telling reporters that lipid and gas prices volition “come tumbling down” erstwhile the warfare concludes.

The ceasefire remains intact but fragile. The U.S. naval blockade of Iranian lipid exports continues, and Iran retains partial power implicit the Strait of Hormuz. Negotiations are ongoing by phone. The determination to state hostilities terminated efficaciously resets the War Powers timepiece without ending the broader standoff, preserving flexibility for some renewed diplomacy and, if Trump chooses, aboriginal subject action.