Trump declares Iran ceasefire over, calls leaders ‘scum’ and ‘sick’; US revokes oil license and launches strikes

Ceasefire collapse

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump declared the June 17 memorandum of understanding with Iran “finished,” telling reporters at the NATO summit in Ankara that the deal was a “waste of time.”

From my standpoint, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them anymore. They are scum. They are sick people.

Trump added that he would allow US negotiators to continue talks but saw no point, calling Iranian leaders “bad, violent people” and warning that if Tehran had nuclear weapons, it would use them.

American strikes and sanctions

The US military launched overnight strikes on dozens of targets in southern Iran, including air defence systems, missile installations, and drone bases. The operation was a response to attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, including a Qatari LNG tanker and a Saudi supertanker. Qatar blamed Iran for the assault on the Al Rekayyat. In parallel, the Treasury Department revoked a general licence that had permitted Iranian oil sales through August 21, requiring all transactions to be wound down by July 17.

I told them to go do the funeral, and instead they started shooting rockets at ships yesterday. So we hit them very hard last night, 20 to 120 times harder than before.

Iranian retaliation

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps retaliated by targeting US military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait with missiles and drones, claiming to have struck Bandar Salman, Naval District 5, and the Ali Al Salem air base. Tehran also asserted it shot down a US drone. The Iranian foreign ministry denounced Washington for violating the ceasefire and blamed the US for the escalation. As of reporting, independent verification of the damage was pending.

Market reaction

Brent crude prices rose more than 3 percent on the news, as traders priced in the risk of disruption through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. The collapse of the truce, which had halted hostilities for just three weeks, revived fears of a wider conflict in the Gulf.

Timeline of collapse

1. Jun 17, 2026US and Iran sign 60‑day ceasefire memorandum
2. Jun 22, 2026US Treasury issues licence for Iranian oil sales through Aug 21
3. Jul 7, 11:00 PMThree tankers attacked in Strait of Hormuz; Qatar accuses Iran
4. Jul 8, 02:00 AMUS strikes dozens of Iranian military targets, revokes oil licence
5. Jul 8, 06:00 AMIran retaliates with missile and drone strikes on US bases in Bahrain and Kuwait
6. Jul 8, 10:00 AMTrump declares ceasefire ‘finished’ at NATO summit in Ankara