US-Iran truce expires as Trump claims Hormuz and projectile strikes Gulf ship

Expiration of the Islamabad truce

The 60-day diplomatic truce between the United States and Iran, established under a memorandum signed in Islamabad in June 2026, expired on 18 August 2026 without a consensus on implementing its terms. The broader conflict began on 28 February 2026 when US and Israeli forces conducted airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting an Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz and an American naval blockade. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf announced that the waterway will stay closed until Washington lifts the naval blockade, ends the petroleum embargo, and releases frozen Iranian assets held abroad. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran refuses to accept a temporary ceasefire and insists on a complete end to the war. Araghchi also noted that the expired agreement held 13 clauses favoring Tehran against one favoring Washington, accusing Israel of sabotaging diplomatic efforts.

Maritime attacks and regional missile alerts

Maritime and regional security deteriorated across the Gulf following the expiration. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that an unidentified projectile struck a commercial vessel navigating out of the Strait of Hormuz, damaging its engine room and injuring a crew member. The Oman Coast Guard provided emergency assistance to the vessel, while UKMTO confirmed no environmental contamination had occurred and noted transit volume dropped to six ships over a 24-hour period. Since 15 August 2026, at least three merchant vessels connected to the United Arab Emirates have come under attack in the area. In the United Arab Emirates, air defense batteries intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles fired toward Dubai, triggering smartphone alerts across the city as debris fell inside and outside territorial waters. Simultaneously, Houthi forces launched drone strikes against the Saudi Aramco refinery in Jazan along the Red Sea, claiming retaliation for airspace violations over Saada and Hajjah.

Territorial disputes and diplomatic rhetoric

US President Donald Trump escalated the diplomatic confrontation by publishing a map on Truth Social that designated the Strait of Hormuz as new US territory. The post followed earlier statements delivered in New York on 14 August 2026 and in the Oval Office on 17 August 2026. Users on social media noted that the map posted by Trump omitted both Qatar and Bahrain from the Persian Gulf. Trump asserted that the US naval blockade remains in full force, that all mines have been cleared or detonated, and that no negotiations with Iranian officials are taking place or scheduled. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded publicly to reject the American territorial claim over the waterway.

His illusion on the Strait of Hormuz will soon be corrected or we will correct this man's illusions.

Political consequences and mediation efforts

Diplomatic engagement continued abroad as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone call with Trump, urging Washington to maintain talks with Iran and offering Turkish mediation. Within the United States, military engagement in the Middle East eroded public support for the administration. According to a Reuters and Ipsos poll conducted in August 2026, Trump's approval rating dropped to 33%, with 64% of respondents expressing disapproval, matching his previous lowest recorded rating from December 2017. The survey also indicated that 80% of Americans expect military involvement in Iran to continue over an extended timeframe. Domestically, Iranian authorities carried out 916 executions between January and mid-August 2026 following popular protests, compared with 1,639 total executions recorded during 2025.