Trump declares US-Iran ceasefire over after mutual strikes, Tehran threatens to close Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump declared the three-week-old ceasefire with Iran 'over' after a night of mutual military strikes, while Tehran threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil chokepoint.
Ceasefire declared dead
Donald Trump declared the three-week-old ceasefire with Iran "over" on Wednesday, speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara. The memorandum of understanding, negotiated in Switzerland, had paused a conflict that began in late February. "For me, I think it's over," Trump told journalists, accusing Tehran of bad faith. "We make a deal, everyone agrees. Then they go talk to the press and say they never talked about it. There's something wrong with them. They're crazy." The US president called Iranian leaders "scum" and "sick people," and said he no longer wanted to negotiate. "It's a waste of time negotiating with them, they are liars." He added that he would let negotiators continue if they wished, but "I don't see that happening."
Military exchanges
The breakdown followed a sharp escalation. On Tuesday, Iran attacked three merchant ships near Oman, according to Washington. The US responded with strikes on over 80 Iranian military targets, including Kharg island, a key oil terminal. Iran then retaliated on Wednesday, hitting 85 US military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain with missiles and drones, and claiming to have downed an MQ-9 drone. Kuwait and Bahrain activated air defences. Trump warned: "I warned them that every time they attack, we attack and, of course, they are dirty players, so they will go after everyone, probably including me." He also noted, "I am their number one target."
- Iran attacks three merchant ships near Oman
- US strikes over 80 Iranian military targets, including Kharg island
- Iran retaliates, hitting 85 US installations in Kuwait and Bahrain, downs MQ-9 drone
- Trump declares ceasefire 'over' at NATO summit in Ankara
- Iran threatens to close Strait of Hormuz, oil prices rise over 5%
Hormuz threat
In Tehran, rhetoric hardened. A source told state-run Press TV that orders were to close the Strait of Hormuz and retaliate at a ratio of two to one. Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned that all US bases in the region could become "legitimate targets." The Iranian Foreign Ministry cautioned Washington about the "consequences of non-compliance with the agreement." President Masoud Pezeshkian returned to Tehran from Iraq, where he had attended the funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, whose death had paused diplomacy.
NATO summit backdrop
Trump used the summit to highlight "enormous unity" and progress toward the 5% GDP defence spending target. He also criticised some allies: the UK would not allow all its bases to be used, and Italy was "very bad" at supporting US operations. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte countered that 5,000 aircraft had taken off from European airports in support of US missions, calling Europe "a great power projection platform for the United States."
5,000 planes were taking off from European airports in support of US operations.
Oil and sanctions
Oil prices jumped more than 5% after Trump's announcement. The US also reimposed economic sanctions on Iranian oil, citing Tehran's "totally unacceptable" actions in the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is the main maritime route for Middle Eastern oil exports to global markets.
