US President Donald Trump has declared that the interim agreement aimed at ending the conflict with Iran is over after Tehran launched fresh attacks on American military installations in the Gulf, reigniting tensions and raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
The latest escalation followed Iran’s announcement that it had targeted US military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation for recent American strikes on Iranian positions after attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
The renewed hostilities have dealt a major blow to the fragile ceasefire and cast doubt on the future of the interim agreement signed on June 17, which had been intended to lay the foundation for a lasting peace following months of conflict that began with US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28.
Speaking to reporters ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said he considered the agreement finished and had no interest in reviving negotiations with Tehran.
He also criticised Iran’s leadership, accusing it of acting recklessly and insisting that further talks would serve no purpose.
Financial markets reacted swiftly to the renewed tensions, with global oil prices rising sharply and stock markets retreating as investors assessed the risks of prolonged instability in one of the world’s most important energy-producing regions.
Concerns also mounted over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after tracking data indicated that several oil and gas tankers reversed course rather than risk transiting the strategic waterway.
Brent crude climbed about five percent to around $78 per barrel, marking its biggest single-day gain in weeks and reviving concerns that higher energy costs could fuel global inflation.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had struck US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait and claimed to have shot down an American MQ-9 drone during the operation.
The attacks followed US military action against Iranian targets, including coastal defence systems, missile sites, drone launch facilities and vessels operated by the Revolutionary Guards. Washington said the operation was intended to impose significant costs on Iran following attacks on commercial shipping despite the ceasefire.
The US Central Command described Iran’s latest attacks as a dangerous violation of the ceasefire that threatened freedom of navigation in the Gulf.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte defended the American strikes as necessary, while European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned Iran’s attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait, warning that the renewed violence had further undermined efforts to secure a lasting peace agreement.
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters denounced the US operation as an act of aggression and warned of a severe response, insisting Tehran would not tolerate foreign interference in the Strait of Hormuz.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf also accused Washington of violating the ceasefire through renewed military action, additional oil sanctions and continued pressure on Iran’s strategic interests, declaring that Tehran would not yield to what he described as intimidation.
Iranian state media later reported explosions in several southern locations, including Kharg Island, Qeshm Island, Sirik and Bandar Abbas, although US officials did not confirm strikes on Kharg Island, the country’s main crude oil export terminal.
A US official said the latest military operation focused on disabling Iran’s air defence systems, surveillance facilities, anti-ship missile batteries and drone infrastructure. No civilian casualties were reported.
The Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the confrontation, with analysts warning that Iran continues to use its influence over the vital shipping route as leverage in negotiations with Washington while seeking stronger guarantees in any future peace settlement.
The crisis deepened further after the United States revoked a temporary licence allowing limited sales of Iranian oil and petrochemical products. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the move as a breach of the interim agreement and warned that it would take all necessary measures to protect its national interests and security.
Goodness Anunobi
