Iran Ceasefire is Over After Iran Targets Shipping

U.S. launches new strikes as tensions surge in the Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump declared that the ceasefire with Iran is effectively over after a series of attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, ordering a new wave of American military strikes against Iranian targets. The latest escalation follows Iranian attacks on multiple oil tankers and commercial vessels transiting one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes, prompting the United States to launch what military officials described as a forceful response to restore freedom of navigation.

Attacks on Commercial Shipping

The latest crisis began after three commercial tankers were struck while traveling through or near the Strait of Hormuz. Additional reports described other vessels suffering damage, including one tanker that caught fire after being hit by an unidentified projectile. Other ships reported missile, drone, or projectile strikes while either entering or leaving the strategic waterway.

The United States characterized the attacks as “wholly unacceptable” aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews operating in international waters. American officials said the strikes on Iran were intended to impose “heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent individuals in an international waterway.”

Iran disputed many of the accusations. Iranian officials argued that vessels failing to coordinate with Iranian authorities or tampering with their tracking systems created safety risks in the strait. Tehran has also insisted that, under the interim agreement reached with Washington, it has authority to help manage maritime traffic through the strategically vital passage.

Trump Says the Ceasefire Is Over

Speaking on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump made clear that the attacks on commercial shipping had fundamentally changed the situation.

“For me, I think it’s over,” Trump said when asked about the ceasefire.

He added that American negotiators could continue discussions with Iran but expressed little confidence in the diplomatic process, saying, “They can talk, but I think they’re wasting their time.”

Trump also accused Iran of continuing hostile behavior despite previous understandings between the two countries.

“They are behaving very badly,” he said, referring to Iranian attacks involving drones and missiles against commercial vessels. He warned that the United States would “probably hit them hard again tonight,” while later suggesting that any additional military action would not necessarily become a prolonged conflict.

The First Wave of U.S. Strikes

Following the attacks on shipping, U.S. Central Command launched what it described as “powerful” strikes against more than 80 Iranian targets.

According to American military officials, the operation targeted Iranian air defense systems, coastal radar installations, missile launch sites, command centers, and more than 60 fast attack boats operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The United States said those boats have played a significant role in threatening international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian state media reported strikes affecting several locations, including Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Bandar Mahshahr, and Bushehr. Iranian officials acknowledged casualties among military personnel, while local reports described injuries caused by shrapnel in several areas.

In addition to the military action, Washington revoked its temporary suspension of sanctions that had allowed Iran to openly sell oil under an earlier memorandum of understanding. Iran condemned the move as evidence of what it called American “bad faith, inconsistency, and unreliability.”

A Second Round of Strikes Begins

Hours after Trump’s remarks, U.S. Central Command announced that another round of military operations had begun.

Military officials said the additional strikes were launched “to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”

Soon afterward, Iranian media reported explosions near Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Konarak, and Chabahar. Air defense systems were reportedly activated as Iranian forces engaged what officials described as “hostile targets.” American officials did not immediately release detailed information regarding the specific targets involved in the second round of operations.

Iran Promises Retaliation

Iran quickly responded with its own military actions and increasingly defiant rhetoric.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced missile and drone attacks against American military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, including U.S. naval and air installations. Kuwaiti officials reported intercepting ballistic missiles and drones while condemning what they described as repeated attacks.

Iranian military headquarters vowed there would be a “strong response” against U.S. forces.

Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi argued that Trump’s comments reflected “not a sign of power but an admission of the failure” of American policy toward Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also delivered a pointed warning, saying Iranians “do not answer vulgarity with vulgarity, but with action: fearlessly and with great valor.”

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared, “The era of bullying and extortion is over. It leads nowhere. We don’t fold.”

Diplomacy Faces New Uncertainty

The renewed fighting has cast serious doubt on negotiations intended to transform the temporary ceasefire into a permanent agreement.

Formal talks had already been delayed while funeral ceremonies were being held for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Following the latest exchange of strikes, officials acknowledged that it remains unclear when negotiations might resume.

Despite Trump’s declaration that the ceasefire is effectively finished, U.S. officials indicated that diplomatic channels remain open even as military operations continue.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte strongly endorsed the American response, arguing that Iran had effectively broken the ceasefire through its attacks on commercial shipping.

“I think it was absolutely necessary,” Rutte said. “I think it is totally crucial that the U.S. forcefully reacts.”

As military operations continue and both sides exchange increasingly sharp warnings, the latest confrontation has significantly raised tensions in the Persian Gulf while leaving the future of U.S.-Iran diplomacy uncertain.