President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran “over” on July 8 during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, as the US military launched fresh strikes against Iranian targets and Tehran responded by attacking American military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
The eight-week ceasefire, which had been extended for 60 days in mid-June under a memorandum of understanding, began to unravel after Iran targeted commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on July 5 and 6. The US military responded with strikes on more than 80 Iranian targets, according to U.S. Central Command, aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to threaten shipping in the critical waterway.
Trump’s declaration marked a dramatic turn after weeks of fragile diplomacy. The ceasefire agreement, first reached in April 2026 as a two-week truce mediated by Pakistan, had been repeatedly extended despite violations and near-breakdowns. The June extension represented a major diplomatic achievement after months of escalating conflict in the region.
The escalation intensified on July 8 and 9, with the US military striking Iran for a second consecutive night. According to CNN reporting, the US has struck Iran at least 170 times over the two days, with American forces targeting military infrastructure aimed at further degrading Tehran’s ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by launching drones and missiles at US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Trump’s messaging about the conflict has been mixed. While approving the military strikes, he also suggested negotiations could continue, stating he was unsure whether he wanted a deal anymore. He warned Iran the US should “finish the job” if attacks persisted. The confused signals have left mediators scrambling to preserve the interim agreement even as both sides escalate military operations.
The ceasefire had been on precarious footing since April. Both the US and Iran accused each other of violations throughout the agreement’s duration. In May, Iran accused the US military of targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz, while the US said Iran’s actions near the waterway violated the terms. The agreement had survived multiple near-collapses, with Trump himself saying in May that the ceasefire was on “life support.”
The breakdown carries broader implications. Oil prices rose as tensions escalated, with Brent crude briefly topping $80 per barrel on Wednesday before settling at $78.66 on Thursday. The conflict could also impact Republican political fortunes if sustained high energy prices continue ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Sources
- Washington Post — Trump’s declaration of ceasefire as “over” and US strikes on approximately 90 Iranian targets
- AP News — Live coverage of US and Iran military exchanges, Trump’s mixed messaging on the ceasefire, and details on 170+ strikes over two days
- CNN — Coverage of second-day strikes and Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain bases
- Al Jazeera — Details on the 60-day ceasefire extension agreement and Iran’s defiance over Strait of Hormuz control
- Wikipedia / 2026 Iran war ceasefire — Timeline of ceasefire agreement from April 8, 2026, and July 8 declaration that ceasefire was “over”
- Reuters — Information on ceasefire violations and escalation patterns
