Across-the-board surge! Just now, 126,700 people liquidated! Iran situation, major news emerging!

Risk assets are collectively rising!

On the morning of March 17, cryptocurrencies, which are seen as indicators of market risk appetite, continued to surge. As of the time of this report, Bitcoin has surpassed $75,000, with a 24-hour increase of 3.66%. Ethereum rose 8.68%, Hyperliquid increased over 9%, Cardano up over 7%, XRP up over 6%, and Solana up over 4%. According to CoinGlass data, in the past 24 hours, 126,700 traders were liquidated across the crypto market, totaling $568 million. Nearly 80% of these liquidations were short positions.

Asian-Pacific stock markets also rose collectively. As of this report, South Korea’s KOSPI index increased by 2.84%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.58%, and the MSCI Asia-Pacific index gained nearly 1%. Chip stocks strengthened, with Samsung Electronics and Hanmi Semiconductor up over 4%, and SK Hynix up 2.50%.

Latest updates on Iran situation: On March 16, U.S. President Trump said at the White House that he believes U.S. military actions against Iran will not end this week, but it won’t be long. On the same day, according to CCTV News citing foreign media, multiple sources revealed that the U.S. military has developed several “exit options” in planning operations against Iran, to end the conflict when necessary.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Kalibaf stated on March 16 that Iran is prepared for a long-term war. On the same day, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement saying that they carried out joint missile and drone strikes on two U.S. airbases in the Gulf region.

UAE officials announced early on March 17 that, due to air defense systems responding to threats from Iran’s missiles and drones, the country temporarily closed parts of its airspace.

Trump: Military action against Iran will not end this week, but it won’t be long

According to Xinhua News Agency, U.S. President Trump said at the White House on the afternoon of March 16 that he believes U.S. military operations against Iran will not conclude this week.

In response to media questions, Trump said the end of this military campaign “won’t be so quick, but it won’t take long,” and that “soon, this war will be over.”

He also stated that he will soon announce which countries have agreed to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Previously, he complained that U.S. European allies were unwilling to “lend a hand” in escort operations.

Trump previously indicated that military actions against Iran could last four weeks or longer. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin refused to specify a timeline for the mission.

According to CCTV News, on March 16, U.S. President Trump said that the U.S. has struck over 7,000 targets in Iran, mainly military and commercial sites. The strikes have been ongoing intensively over the past few days, including three missile and drone manufacturing facilities. Trump mentioned that the U.S. has destroyed 30 minesweepers in the Strait of Hormuz, but it’s uncertain whether any mines have been laid. He predicted limited firefights and that Iran’s remaining ammunition is almost exhausted.

Additionally, foreign media sources cited by CCTV News on March 16 revealed that the U.S. military has set multiple “exit options” for President Trump in planning operations against Iran, to end the conflict when needed.

With the ongoing escalation in the Middle East and Iran’s control of the key Strait of Hormuz, the timeline and conditions for ending the war remain highly uncertain. Some government advisors advocate for developing exit strategies, fearing that the war could destabilize the global economy; others see it as an opportunity to weaken Iran’s regional influence.

Sources say these “exit channels” are incorporated into daily war planning.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that the U.S. initially estimated that achieving military objectives would take about 4 to 6 weeks. She said the military is executing its mission, and operations will end once the President deems the objectives achieved and the threat from Iran eliminated.

On March 16, U.S. Central Command spokesperson Tim Hawkins said that since the recent military actions by the U.S. and Israel against Iran, over 200 U.S. soldiers have been injured in seven Middle Eastern countries.

Hawkins stated that injuries occurred in Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, mostly during the initial phase of the conflict. Some injuries were reported only in recent days, mainly traumatic brain injuries. The number of seriously wounded U.S. soldiers has increased to 10.

According to U.S. reports on March 13, one American official said that 13 U.S. military personnel have died in operations against Iran.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s latest statement:

According to CCTV News, on March 16, Iran’s President Raisi shared on his personal social media that he had spoken with French President Macron.

Raisi stated that Iran did not provoke this brutal war. Defending against invasion is Iran’s inherent right, and Iran excels at it. Using U.S. military bases in the region to counter Iran and attempting to undermine Iran’s relations with neighboring countries must stop. Ignoring Israel and U.S. aggression against Iran makes regional peace and stability impossible. Iran will never yield to bullies.

Raisi called on the international community to condemn this aggression and persuade the aggressors to respect international law. Until Iran’s future territory is no longer under attack, discussing ending the war is meaningless.

On March 16, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Kalibaf said in an interview that a ceasefire is only reasonable if it is based on no further hostilities. A ceasefire should not just give the enemy a chance to resolve issues like destroyed radars or missile shortages, only to attack Iran again.

Kalibaf said Iran will continue fighting until the enemy truly regrets and the global and regional political and security conditions are favorable. Iran is prepared for a long war, as it anticipates attacks. He believes no one now believes the U.S. claims of “destroying Iran’s offensive capability.” Iran has ample missile and drone reserves, and due to autonomous technology, it can produce at a much higher efficiency and lower cost than the enemy’s interception systems.

According to Iran’s reports on the 16th, Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Moojtab Khamenei, has ordered officials and leaders appointed by the late Supreme Leader to continue their duties.

It is understood that Moojtab stated in a written directive that those appointed by the previous Supreme Leader should continue their work based on policies and measures established during his lifetime, without reappointment.

Earlier, Iranian media reported on the 16th that Iran’s Supreme Leader Moojtab Khamenei appointed former IRGC Commander Moussavi Rezaei as a military advisor.