Trump Ends Iran Ceasefire Amid Strait of Hormuz Attacks

President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran over on July 8, 2026, during a NATO summit in Turkey, citing Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and alleged plots to assassinate him. Trump threatened to "completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran" with 1,000 missiles "locked and loaded" after mourners at the funeral of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for his death.

U.S. Central Command responded by launching multiple waves of airstrikes hitting approximately 170 military and infrastructure targets across five Iranian provinces, including coastal sites in Hormozgan and near the Bushehr nuclear plant. Iran retaliated with drone and missile attacks against U.S. military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Jordan. These clashes resulted in at least 17 Iranian deaths and various injuries across the region. Tensions peaked on July 12 when the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked the M/V GFS Galaxy, prompting further U.S. strikes and an Iranian announcement that the Strait of Hormuz was closed until further notice.

Despite the military escalation, both nations agreed to continue technical negotiations. Mediators from Qatar and Pakistan facilitated talks in Tehran and Muscat, Oman, where Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with officials to discuss maritime safety. Simultaneously, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned financier Ali Ansari for embezzling regime funds. Meanwhile, new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed vengeance for his father's February assassination, and the U.S. demanded a public guarantee that the Strait of Hormuz remains open as a prerequisite for any permanent nuclear deal.