Trump Declares Iran Truce Over After Exchange of Strikes

The United States and Iran exchanged extensive military strikes on July 8 and 9, 2026, effectively collapsing a Pakistan-brokered interim ceasefire known as the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. The escalation began after Iranian forces targeted several commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, including the Qatari LNG tanker Al Rekayyat, which triggered a U.S. military response. Donald Trump declared the truce "over," characterized Iranian leadership as "sick people," and rejected Iranian proposals to introduce transit fees for the waterway.

U.S. Central Command conducted two waves of airstrikes hitting over 170 targets across five Iranian provinces. These operations targeted air defense systems, missile storage, and strategic infrastructure, including a railway bridge in Golestan province and the perimeter of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. The Iranian Ministry of Health reported at least 14 deaths and 78 injuries. Simultaneously, the U.S. Treasury revoked licenses allowing Iran to sell crude oil on international markets.

Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes against U.S. military installations in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and Qatar, including the Ali Al Salem Air Base and the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps asserted that only Iranian-approved routes in the Strait of Hormuz are safe. While the Government of Pakistan urged a return to diplomacy, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that negotiations for a final deal would not resume as long as threats continue. The conflict caused a 6% spike in oil prices and led to a sharp decline in shipping traffic through the Omani route.