WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said the United States will likely launch fresh US strikes on Iran on Wednesday night, escalating tensions despite an existing Iran ceasefire agreement aimed at ending weeks of hostilities between the two countries.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump warned that Washington would respond forcefully after carrying out military strikes a day earlier. “We’re going to hit them hard tonight,” he said, while adding that it remained uncertain whether negotiations with Tehran would continue.
Trump also declared that the memorandum of understanding signed to halt the conflict was effectively over, saying he no longer wanted to negotiate with Iran. The ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan, had provided a 60-day window for indirect talks to secure a permanent peace agreement, but negotiations in Qatar ended last week without progress.
The latest Iran US conflict intensified after the US military confirmed it struck more than 80 targets in Iran, describing the operation as a response to Iranian attacks on commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Washington also revoked a temporary license allowing Iran to sell crude oil, giving businesses until July 17 to wind down related transactions.
Iran strongly condemned the attacks, accusing the United States of violating international law and the ceasefire agreement. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said the strikes targeted monitoring and surveillance centres along the country’s southern coast and warned neighbouring Gulf states against allowing their territory to be used for military operations against Iran.
Tehran also stated that its armed forces would defend the country's sovereignty under Article 51 of the UN Charter and warned that all US military bases in the region would become legitimate targets if ceasefire violations continued. Iranian state media reported that an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy member was killed during the strikes and claimed Iranian air defences shot down a US MQ-9 drone over Bushehr province, though US officials have not confirmed the claim.
Meanwhile, China urged both sides to avoid further military escalation and return to dialogue, saying renewed conflict serves no one's interests. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte defended the US response, stating the strikes were necessary after what he described as Iranian violations of the Iran ceasefire.
The renewed Donald Trump Iran confrontation has raised fears of a wider regional conflict, with diplomatic efforts facing increasing uncertainty.
