US President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran 'over' on July 8 during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Ankara. Trump stated the US is now conducting military strikes '20 times tougher' than before, telling reporters 'I don't want to deal with them anymore.' Trump's announcement came after the US launched strikes on Iran early Wednesday (July 8), hours after revoking a licence authorizing Iranian oil sales in retaliation for Tehran's attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation occurred during the funeral period for Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28, with Iran retaliating by striking Bahrain and Kuwait, threatening crucial fuel shipments in the strait that are vital to the global economy.
Trump Declares End to Iran Ceasefire in Ankara Meeting
When asked about Iran during his meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte, Trump said: "To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them anymore. As far as I'm concerned, it's over. I'll speak to our negotiators, they want to negotiate. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a waste of time dealing with them."
Trump branded the Iranians as "sick" and criticized their actions during the funeral period. "We said 'Go and do your funeral stuff', and instead of that, they start shooting rockets and ships yesterday. So we hit them very hard last night," Trump stated. He added that the US is now striking Iran with military strikes "20 times tougher" than previous actions.
US Military Strikes Iranian Defense Systems and Revolutionary Guard Boats
The US military's Central Command said American forces launched the strikes "to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway". The strikes hit Iranian targets including air defense systems, radars and over 60 small boats used by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Those boats have been key in harassing ships in the strait.
The US military stated it remains "postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable when the agreement is not adhered to or obeyed", adding that this round of attacks had ended. Iran acknowledged the strikes, but offered no word on any losses.
Iran Retaliates with Strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait
Iran responded to the US actions by launching strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait. The attacks on shipping threatened efforts to resume fuel shipments in the strait that are crucial to the global economy. The crossfire came during the days-long funeral for Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 in the war's first moments.
Escalation Threatens Strait of Hormuz Shipping Routes
The funeral, which ends Thursday, was supposed to be a period of lower tensions — though mourners have repeatedly called for the killings of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Negotiations to reach a final deal had been due to start after Khamenei's burial and focus on the toughest matters, including fully reopening the strait and rolling back Tehran's disputed nuclear programme. However, the new attacks threw that into question.
FAQ
What did Donald Trump announce about the Iran ceasefire on July 8?
Donald Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran 'over' during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Ankara on July 8, stating he doesn't want to deal with Iran anymore and that negotiations are a waste of time.
What targets did the US military strike in Iran?
The US military's Central Command struck Iranian targets including air defense systems, radars, and over 60 small boats used by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which have been used to harass ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
How did Iran respond to the US strikes?
Iran retaliated by launching strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait, and acknowledged the US strikes but offered no word on any losses from the attacks.
