Trump Ends Iran Ceasefire and Authorizes New Airstrikes

President Donald Trump declared an interim ceasefire with Iran over on July 9, 2026, and authorized the United States military to launch airstrikes against the southern coast of Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. The operation, executed by U.S. Central Command, aimed to degrade Iran's ability to threaten navigation after Iranian forces attacked three cargo ships. The strikes targeted locations including Bandar Abbas, Chabahar, Iranshahr, and Aqqala. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones at U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.

This escalation follows a four-month conflict that began on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Although a memorandum of understanding was signed on June 17, Iranian officials claim the U.S. violated the agreement, while the U.S. maintains it is holding Iran accountable for aggression.

The conflict has caused severe global economic disruption. Jet fuel prices more than doubled, rising from $830 to over $1,800 a ton, which forced airlines like Air France and Vietnam Airlines to suspend flights or cancel domestic routes. Major aviation hubs in Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi closed following retaliatory strikes from Tehran. Global air freight capacity has shrunk, causing cargo rates from Dubai to the U.S. to rise 73% year-on-year and forcing shippers to use unconventional routes via Los Angeles to move goods from Asia to Europe.