#TrumpDeclaresEndToUSIranCeasefire "Over" at NATO Summit Following Overnight Strikes
In a dramatic escalation of tensions, US President Donald Trump formally declared the ceasefire agreement with Iran "over" on July 8, 2026, during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. The announcement came after the US and Iran exchanged fresh military strikes overnight, shattering a fragile truce that had been in place since April.
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The Ceasefire That Was
Last month, Washington and Tehran signed a 14-page memorandum of understanding aimed at extending the ceasefire and ending the conflict "on all fronts". The agreement, brokered by Pakistan and Qatar, included provisions for the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz and the US lifting sanctions on Iran. It was seen as a crucial first step toward a lasting peace and nuclear non-proliferation.
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Trump's Blistering Statement
When asked whether the ceasefire remained in effect, Trump did not mince words: "I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them anymore, they're scum".
He continued: "They're sick people. They're led by sick people and they're vicious, violent people. And if they had a nuclear weapon, they'd use it".
Trump accused Iranian leaders of being "liars" and "cheats," claiming they misrepresented what had been agreed: "We make a deal. Everyone's agreed, no nuclear weapon. They go outside, talk to the press, they say we never even talked about it. There's something wrong with them, they're cuckoo".
He also accused Iran of killing 54,000 people during protests, calling the regime a "cancer" that must be cut out. On potential future talks, Trump was dismissive: "They can talk, but I think they're wasting their time. Frankly, I don't want to waste my time with them".
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The Overnight Strikes That Triggered the Collapse
The ceasefire's collapse was precipitated by a wave of US military strikes on July 7. US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces hit over 80 Iranian targets with precision munitions, including:
· Iranian air defense systems
· Command and control networks
· Coastal radar sites
· Anti-ship missile capabilities
· More than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) small boats
The strikes were described as an "immediate response" to Iran's latest attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, including the Marshall Islands-flagged M/T Al Rekayyat and a Saudi Arabia-flagged tanker.
Iran retaliated swiftly. The IRGC announced its forces conducted a missile and drone operation against "85 key US military sites" in Bahrain and Kuwait. Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, insisted it was the US that breached the truce.
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NATO & International Reaction
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, sitting alongside Trump in Ankara, endorsed the US action: "I think what you did last night was absolutely necessary. It was a very strong response". Rutte accused Iran of "basically violating the ceasefire".
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the exchanges "further complicate already fraught talks to end the war". EU foreign ministers will meet with Gulf counterparts to discuss supporting the peace agreement and preserving freedom of navigation.
Pakistan, which helped broker the original ceasefire, urged both sides to honour their commitments, stating renewed conflict was in "no one's interest" and that "there is no alternative to continued engagement, dialogue and diplomacy".
Turkey's President Erdogan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt's intelligence chief are all involved in mediation efforts.
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Global Impact: Oil Prices Surge
The declaration sent shockwaves through global markets. Oil prices jumped 5% immediately after Trump's remarks and later surged over 6%. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, and renewed fighting has reignited fears over supply disruptions.
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What Comes Next?
Trump has signaled he is losing interest in preserving the ceasefire entirely: "We can play games, but I'm not sure I want to make a deal" and suggested the US military might "just finish the job". However, he also said continued attacks do not necessarily mean a return to full-scale war.
Michael Eisenstadt, a former US military analyst at the Washington Institute, noted: "We're still in negotiating mode, no matter what the president says. This is part of negotiating, and declaring that the MOU is over is part of the negotiation as well".
Iran's lead negotiator, Qalibaf, remains defiant: "The era of bullying and extortion is over. It leads nowhere. We don't fold". Mediator Qatar has said the next round of talks is expected to begin as soon as possible after the funeral of Iran's former Supreme Leader.
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A Dangerous Crossroads
The collapse of the US-Iran ceasefire marks one of the most dangerous periods of direct confrontation between the two countries in recent years. With both sides trading blows, oil markets in turmoil, and diplomatic channels hanging by a thread, the world now watches anxiously to see whether this is a negotiating tactic—or the prelude to a wider conflict.
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