President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire between the United States and Iran “over” on July 8 during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, triggering a second day of intensive strikes that has escalated tensions across the Middle East.
The declaration came after Iran attacked three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the US military to strike approximately 90 Iranian targets along the country’s coastline overnight. According to US Central Command, the strikes targeted air defense systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure.
The 60-day ceasefire agreement, which the US and Iran had signed on June 17, 2026, was designed to provide a window for negotiations to end the broader conflict that began in February. By targeting Iranian military infrastructure for a second consecutive night, the US military said it had carried out at least 170 strikes in total over the two-night period.
In response to the American strikes, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps retaliated by launching drones and missiles at US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. The Iranian army also said it struck a US military site in Qatar. Additionally, Iran fired ballistic missiles at a US base in Jordan, though Jordanian air defenses intercepted all of them, with no reported casualties.
Iran’s Health Ministry reported that at least 14 people had been killed and 78 wounded across the two days of American airstrikes. Iranian state media also reported strikes on civilian infrastructure, including allegations of damage to bridges along railway routes and a fishing pier in Bushehr Province, though the US military did not confirm targeting civilian sites.
The escalation marks a dramatic reversal from the relative calm that had prevailed since the ceasefire began in mid-June. The agreement, known as a Memorandum of Understanding, had extended the initial two-week ceasefire that started in April and was meant to allow both sides to negotiate a permanent end to the conflict. Trump had previously stated the war was “terminated” under the ceasefire arrangement, though tensions remained high over control of the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian compliance with the terms.
Speaking at the NATO summit, Trump said he believed the ceasefire was “over” and warned Iran that further strikes would “get much worse.” He also threatened to reimpose a US naval blockade on Iranian oil exports, a move that would further isolate Iran’s economy. Iran’s top negotiator, however, indicated the country would not back down, stating that Iran would retaliate against any further attacks and refusing to allow outside powers to dictate terms for shipping through the critical waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global oil production flows, has been a flashpoint throughout the conflict. Iran controls the strait’s northern side and has used threats to close or restrict it as leverage in negotiations. The latest round of attacks has already disrupted shipping, with vessel transits dropping sharply as captains avoid the region amid the renewed hostilities.
The ceasefire’s collapse comes amid broader regional instability, including the ongoing funeral of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in late February during the initial US-Israeli strikes. His burial on July 9 drew hundreds of thousands of mourners to the city of Mashhad, even as military strikes continued overhead.
Sources
- CNN — live updates on US and Iran strikes, casualty figures from Iran’s Health Ministry, details of Iranian retaliation and US military operations
- The Washington Post — Trump’s declaration that ceasefire is “over,” US strikes on 90 Iranian targets, Iran’s response targeting US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain
- Reuters — Trump’s statement that the interim accord with Iran to end war is “over”
- NPR — US strikes on Iran for second day, casualty and injury figures from Iranian Health Ministry
- USA Today — Trump’s statement about 60-day ceasefire at NATO summit in Ankara
- Al Jazeera — Trump’s ceasefire declaration, US and Iran trade of strikes, Iranian retaliation details
