Donald Trump ended the ceasefire with Iran on Wednesday in a stunning outburst, where he issued threats against Tehran and denounced its leadership. The US President made the declarations from the Nato summit in Turkey following overnight exchanges of fire, with Iran being targeted at least 85 times in a significant US bombing operation. Iranian state media reported that American strikes hit various locations in Iran, resulting in injuries. In retaliation, Iran claimed to have attacked a US Navy headquarters and an air base in Kuwait. The escalation came after Iranian troops targeted three oil and gas tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump stated that Iran had launched drones and a missile at ships in the Strait, leading to the US responding forcefully. He also mentioned giving Tehran permission for a funeral procession for their slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, which was met with further aggression from Iran. Trump expressed his disdain for Iran, calling them “evil people” and indicating that he believed peace talks were no longer viable.
Iran responded to Trump’s threats by warning of controlling global oil trade passing through the Strait of Hormuz and threatening neighboring countries. The Fars News agency, with close ties to the IRGC, stated that any new aggression from the US would be met with a direct response targeting US interests. At the Nato summit, Trump also renewed threats to assert control over Greenland and criticized allies for not supporting his stance against Iran.
However, despite the heated rhetoric, the summit ended with Trump expressing unity and positivity among Nato leaders. Trump’s relationship with UK Prime Minister Starmer soured after Starmer refused to join the war with Iran, but they agreed to maintain communication. Starmer emphasized the importance of the UK-US strategic relationship within Nato and expressed his commitment to ensuring a functional partnership between the two countries.
