Trump Declares Iran Peace Deal Over After Fresh Attacks on US Bases
President Donald Trump has stated that the temporary ceasefire agreement to end the war with Iran has expired after Tehran launched fresh attacks on US military bases in the Gulf region. The statement further dims the prospects for peace in the Middle East and triggered a surge in oil prices to their highest level in two weeks.
Iran announced it had attacked several US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation for US military strikes against Iranian targets. Iranian state media reported massive explosions at several strategic locations, including in Bandar Mahshahr which killed a member of the Revolutionary Guard, as well as the Bushehr nuclear power plant complex.
This exchange of fire erupted during the final days of the funeral procession for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the war on 28 February. The situation, initially hoped to be a period of de-escalation, turned into open confrontation after a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker was struck by a missile off the coast of Oman for violating Tehran’s unilateral navigation route.
Iran remained defiant, insisting it would not bow to military pressure or the economic sanctions re-emphasised by Washington. Final negotiations to discuss the full opening of the Strait of Hormuz and restrictions on the nuclear programme are now on the brink of total collapse.
“The era of intimidation and extortion is over,” Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf decried via his official social media account on X. “It will yield no results. We will not surrender.”
Previously, Washington stated it launched the strikes in response to Iran’s actions against tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The series of retaliatory attacks has further weakened efforts to transform the temporary ceasefire agreement reached last month into a permanent peace deal to end the war that began on 28 February, when the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran.
Before attending the NATO Summit in Turkey, Trump was asked by reporters about the status of the memorandum of understanding agreed last month. Responding to the question, Trump explicitly stated he considered the deal no longer valid. “That’s a very interesting question. I think that deal is over. I don’t want to deal with them anymore,” Trump told reporters in Ankara, as reported by Reuters.
Trump then issued harsher remarks against the Iranian government. “They are scum. They are sick people. They are led by sick people,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, dealing with them is just a waste of time,” Trump added.
Trump had previously warned that the war would trigger an “economic catastrophe” if the conflict continued. Yet he now faces equally significant political pressure to end the conflict.
According to CNN International, Trump’s statement is also expected to draw significant attention from Israel. The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long been known to be highly sceptical of the United States’ diplomatic approach to handling Iran. Consequently, Netanyahu may interpret Trump’s statement as an opportunity to continue military operations, both against Hezbollah groups in Lebanon and against targets inside Iranian territory.
It remains unclear whether Trump’s declaration that the ceasefire deal has “ended” will be followed by new military action from Washington or is merely a political signal to increase pressure on Tehran.