Trump Says US-Iran Ceasefire Is Over After Strikes on Southern Iran
US President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran "over" at a NATO summit in Ankara after the United States launched strikes on more than 80 targets in southern Iran in retaliation for Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, with the latest Iran strikes heightening concerns over regional shipping routes.
Trump Declares Ceasefire Over
Speaking on Wednesday at a NATO summit in the Turkish capital Ankara, Trump said the ceasefire with Iran is “over”. [1] He described Iranian leaders as “sick people” and “scum”, adding that “they’re led by sick people, and they’re vicious, violent people”. [1] Trump stated he would speak to his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who have been leading US negotiations with the Iranians, but insisted it was up to Tehran to return to the table. [1] He added that “as far as I’m concerned, it’s just a waste of time dealing with them. They’re liars.” [1] Trump made the announcement after Iran attacked bases hosting US forces in Kuwait and Bahrain. [1]
US Strikes on Southern Iran
The United States launched a wave of military strikes across southern Iran early on Wednesday, targeting more than 80 sites after attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. [3] In a statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the operation was intended to impose a “significant cost” on Iran after it attacked civilian vessels in an international waterway. [3] CENTCOM said it struck more than 80 targets using precision-guided munitions. [3] The military said the operation was designed to “degrade Iran's ability to continue attacking international commerce flowing through the international trade corridor”. [3] According to CENTCOM, US forces struck more than 80 targets, including Iranian air defence systems, coastal radar sites and 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) small boats. [3] US officials separately told Axios the strikes also targeted coastal surveillance stations, surface-to-air missile batteries, anti-ship cruise missile sites, drone launch facilities and parts of Iran's port infrastructure. [3]
Iranian Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz
The attacks came hours after three commercial vessels were struck while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. [3] British maritime security agency UKMTO said an “unknown projectile” struck a tanker near the Strait of Hormuz before two more vessels were hit, at least one by a drone. [3] CENTCOM identified the three vessels as the Marshall Islands-flagged Al Rekayyat, the Saudi Arabia-flagged Wedyan, and the Liberia-flagged Cyprus Prosperity. [3] The ships were struck close to Oman, where authorities had proposed a temporary shipping corridor hugging the country's coastline, an initiative Iran has opposed as it seeks to impose fees on vessels using the strategic waterway. [3] Iran has directed all shipping to follow its map for a “safe route” through the strait, which takes ships much closer to its own coast and marks a section of Omani territorial waters as a “restricted zone”. [5] Local television reported that the ships had ignored warnings to change direction from Iranian forces. [5]
Iran's Retaliatory Strikes on US Bases
Iran strongly condemned the strikes, accusing Washington of violating the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed around three weeks ago to end the recent conflict. [3] According to the official IRNA news agency, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a retaliatory operation targeting 85 “important US military installations” in Bahrain and Kuwait. [3] The IRGC said the targets included the US Fifth Fleet headquarters and Port Salman in Bahrain, as well as Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. [3] Iran's regular army separately said it had carried out drone attacks on Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain. [3] Air raid sirens sounded repeatedly in Bahrain and Kuwait as the attacks unfolded. [3] Bahrain's Interior Ministry and the Kuwaiti army later confirmed that their air defence systems had been activated, though neither country reported any immediate damage. [3] Kuwait's Foreign Ministry denounced the attacks as a “flagrant violation” of the country's sovereignty. [3] Egypt also condemned the reported strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait, describing them as an unacceptable escalation and reaffirming its solidarity with both Gulf states. [3]
Impact on Ceasefire Agreement and Economy
The latest flare-up risks derailing last month’s agreement between the US and Iran to extend their ceasefire and enter into talks on ending the war, although neither country has immediately signalled their intention to abandon negotiations. [1] The US also revoked a sanctions waiver on Iran in response to the strikes on tankers in the strait. [5] The US has reimposed sanctions on Iranian oil, according to a late Tuesday statement from the Department of the Treasury. [5] During the war, Trump temporarily waived sanctions on cargoes of oil already at sea to ease the energy crisis arising from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. [5] It granted Iran a 60-day full waiver, allowing Tehran to sell crude oil amid the ongoing peace talks as part of the MoU signed on June 17. [5] That waiver had been set to expire on August 21. [5] Now, the reimposed sanctions take effect from July 7 for new oil sales. [5] According to The New York Times, oil prices rose by around six per cent after news of the US strikes emerged, climbing to approximately $76.50 a barrel. [3] Later on Wednesday, oil prices climbed further after US President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran "over", extending gains as investors feared further disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. [3] Brent crude rose 6 percent to $78 a barrel. [5]
Reported Damage and Casualties
Iranian state media reported dozens of explosions across southern Iran, particularly in the coastal cities of Sirik and Bandar Abbas, as well as on Qeshm Island in Hormozgan province. [3] State television said US projectiles struck a commercial pier and a fishing pier in Sirik, while also hitting an area containing telecommunications towers in Hormozgan province. [3] Officials said at least seven explosions were recorded around Sirik port, although no comprehensive assessment of casualties or damage has yet been released. [3] Mehr News Agency reported several explosions in and around the southern port city of Bushehr. [3] Iranian state media reported that several people were injured after projectiles struck the southern port city of Sirik. [3] Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy was killed during a confrontation with US drones in the southern port city of Bandar Mahshahr, marking the first reported fatality linked to the latest escalation. [3]
What to watch next: Both sides have blamed each other for breaking earlier agreements outlined in the MoU, which initiated a 60-day peace negotiation process three weeks ago, while CENTCOM warned that more strikes were imminent if Iran continued to act “outside of agreements”. [5]
