US President Donald Trump has declared that the ceasefire with Iran is “over,” signalling a sharp escalation in tensions following fresh US military strikes on Iranian targets.
Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during the NATO Summit 2026 in Ankara, Turkey, Trump said negotiations with Tehran were no longer worthwhile.
Trump Rules Out Further Talks
Responding to a question on whether the ceasefire and the reported 14-point memorandum of understanding remained in effect, Trump said he considered the agreement finished.
“For me, I think it’s over,” Trump told reporters, adding that he no longer wanted to negotiate with Iran and accusing its leadership of pursuing hostile actions.
His remarks came amid renewed military exchanges between Washington and Tehran.
Fresh US Strikes Trigger New Escalation
The latest developments follow a new round of US military strikes targeting Iranian assets.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces carried out offensive operations against Iranian air defence systems, command-and-control networks, coastal radar installations, anti-ship missile capabilities and more than 60 boats operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The US said the operation was intended to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten international maritime commerce in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
US Cites Attacks on Commercial Shipping
Washington said the strikes were launched in response to alleged Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the strait.
The vessels identified by US authorities were:
- Marshall Islands-flagged M/T Al Rekayyat
- Saudi Arabia-flagged M/T Wedyan
- Liberian-flagged M/T Cyprus Prosperity
US officials said the military action was aimed at protecting international shipping routes in the Gulf region.
Iran Yet to Respond Officially
Reports indicated that Iran launched fresh attacks targeting US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and other Gulf countries following the American strikes.
However, at the time of publication, there was no official response from the Iranian government or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps regarding Trump’s statement declaring the ceasefire over.
The latest escalation has raised concerns about renewed instability in the Middle East, with global attention focused on whether diplomatic efforts can prevent the conflict from widening further.
