
16 days · 3 summary articles
US launches fresh strikes on Iran as Trump ends ceasefire while Erdogan gifts firearms at NATO summit
U.S. launches fresh strikes on Iran after Trump declares ceasefire over
U.S. strikes Iranian sites after tanker attack; Hormuz tensions escalate
The United States launched fresh military strikes against Iran on Wednesday night, hours after President Donald Trump declared the two countries’ 20-day-old ceasefire “over” and threatened to hit Tehran “very, very hard” again before the day ended.
CENTCOM confirmed that U.S. forces struck 85 targets across southern Iran and in the Strait of Hormuz, including air-defence systems, command-and-control networks, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile positions and more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small boats. The Pentagon said the raids were aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to disrupt international shipping in the vital waterway, where three commercial tankers were attacked on Monday. “The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews,” CENTCOM stated .
Speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump told reporters that the “memorandum of understanding” signed on 17 June had effectively collapsed. “To me, I think it’s over,” he said, adding that further negotiations were “a waste of time” because Iranian leaders were “sick,” “vicious,” “violent” and “scum.” He repeated his vow to reimpose a naval blockade around Iran and said U.S. forces had already struck and “knocked out a piece” of Kharg Island, a key oil terminal, the previous night. “We may take over Kharg Island,” he said. “We may put down the blockade… and it will only be a blockade for Iran” .
The renewed strikes followed Iranian attacks on three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and retaliatory rocket and drone strikes on U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. Iran’s state-run Mehr news agency reported explosions in several cities, including Bandar Abbas, the country’s largest port. Iran’s deputy foreign minister warned that U.S. measures “will not remain unanswered” .
Global oil markets reacted sharply. Brent crude jumped 5.3 % to more than $78 a barrel by mid-afternoon, while U.S. WTI rose 4.9 % to nearly $74, extending two days of gains that have lifted prices by more than 10 % in 48 hours. Analysts at ING said the U.S. decision to revoke Iran’s oil-sales waiver had raised the risk that the preliminary deal could unravel entirely, even though the immediate supply impact was limited .
NATO’s secretary-general, Mark Rutte, sought to distance the alliance from the escalation, calling Spain’s refusal to grant U.S. overflight rights for the strikes an “outlier” and praising European support for the earlier Operation Epic Fury. Trump, however, publicly criticised Madrid, calling Spain “a terrible partner in NATO” and suggesting trade and visits should be cut off .
Pakistan’s foreign ministry urged both sides to exercise restraint, while the Iranian foreign ministry claimed the world was witnessing a “turning point” in Shia Islam after the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. A ministry spokesperson asserted that Khamenei had been assassinated and would be revered as a second Imam Hussain .
Trump insisted that the latest flare-up would end quickly. “I don’t think it’s going to escalate,” he said. “I think it’ll be over very quickly.” Yet his own threats—coupled with the second consecutive night of U.S. strikes—suggested that the fragile truce brokered barely three weeks ago has collapsed, leaving the region’s energy arteries once again at risk.
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