The United States launched a series of military strikes against Iran on Tuesday and Wednesday following Iranian attacks on three commercial tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command stated that the strikes, which hit over 80 targets including military infrastructure and small boats, were intended to degrade Iran's ability to threaten freedom of navigation. In addition to the military action, the U.S. revoked a license that allowed Tehran to sell oil globally.
Speaking at a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, President Donald Trump declared that the preliminary ceasefire and memorandum of understanding with Iran were over. Trump described dealing with Tehran as a waste of time, calling the Iranian team scum and expressing frustration that European allies had repeatedly let him down. While he stated the U.S. is no longer interested in regime change, he warned that attacks could get much worse and suggested the possible resumption of a blockade on Iranian ports.
In response to the U.S. strikes, Iran's Revolutionary Guards carried out a joint missile and drone operation targeting U.S. military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait, triggering missile alert sirens in both countries. This exchange of fire led to a halt in ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and caused oil prices to rise sharply. Iranian officials have insisted that Tehran will not give up control over the waterway.
Despite the escalation and the collapse of the interim agreement, President Trump indicated he does not believe a full-fledged conflict will erupt, though the prospect of a return to all-out war has been raised. While the current truce is dead, the president did not rule out the possibility of continuing talks to achieve a lasting peace.