Ankara: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday declared that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran “is over”, signalling a sharp escalation in tensions after fresh military exchanges in the West Asia region. The announcement came amid growing concerns over the security of the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route for oil and commercial trade.
Speaking at the NATO Summit in Ankara, Trump adopted a combative tone, accusing Iran of years of hostile actions against the United States. He said Washington was prepared to reimpose a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and described Iran’s leadership in harsh terms. Trump also indicated uncertainty over pursuing any future agreement with Tehran, suggesting that military action remained an option.
The latest escalation follows US military strikes on Iranian targets after Washington accused Tehran of attacking three vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Iran reportedly launched retaliatory strikes in Bahrain, where the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet is headquartered, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
The renewed hostilities have placed the recently signed MoU between the two countries under severe strain. The agreement, reached just three weeks earlier, now appears to be at risk as both sides exchange accusations over the breakdown of the ceasefire.
Iran’s military maintained that it would not accept American interference in the management of the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that only routes designated by Tehran would be considered safe for commercial shipping and oil tankers. Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused Washington of violating the MoU, stating that Iran would not bow to what he described as intimidation and coercion.
According to the US CENTCOM, the American strikes were intended to impose heavy costs on those responsible for targeting commercial vessels and civilian crews in international waters. A US official, quoted by Axios, said Trump personally approved the operation while attending the NATO Summit in Turkey. The official described the military action as a response to what Washington called acts of international terrorism targeting ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest developments have heightened concerns over regional stability and global energy security, as the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes.
