US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, 8 July declared that the ceasefire with Iran is effectively finished, telling reporters at the NATO Summit in Ankara that he no longer wishes to negotiate with Tehran. The announcement came hours after US Central Command (CENTCOM) carried out a fresh round of military strikes hitting more than 80 Iranian targets, including air defence systems, radar installations, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump's Remarks at the NATO Summit

Speaking directly to reporters in Ankara, Trump used unusually blunt language to describe his position on the Iran negotiations. “To me, I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them anymore,” he said. He accused Iranian leadership of bad faith at the negotiating table, alleging that Iranian officials publicly denied discussing nuclear weapons even after reaching tentative agreements. “We make a deal…Everyone’s agreed. No nuclear weapon. We make a deal. They go outside, talk to the press. They say, we never even talked about it,” Trump told reporters.

Trump did not formally shut the door on his negotiating team continuing talks, naming envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as “good people” who could continue if they wished, but he made clear he would not personally engage further. “I’ll let our wonderful negotiators keep talking if they want, but I don’t see it,” he said.

The Military Strikes: What CENTCOM Said

In a post on X, CENTCOM confirmed that US forces completed a new round of offensive strikes against Iran on 7 July, targeting more than 80 sites with precision-guided munitions. The operation was described as an immediate response to Iran’s latest attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

According to CENTCOM, the strikes hit Iranian air defence systems, command and control networks, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile capabilities, and more than 60 IRGC small boats in and near the strait. “The unwarranted aggression by Iranian forces is a clear and dangerous violation of the ceasefire and undermines freedom of navigation,” CENTCOM stated.

The Vessels Iran Allegedly Attacked

The US military identified three commercial ships that Iranian forces allegedly targeted in the strait: the Marshall Islands-flagged M/T Al Rekayyat, the Saudi Arabia-flagged M/T Wedyan, and the Liberian-flagged M/T Cyprus Prosperity. Washington characterised these attacks as a direct violation of the ceasefire agreement and a threat to international freedom of navigation.

Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters

The Strait of Hormuz is among the world’s most strategically critical maritime chokepoints, channelling a significant share of global oil exports and commercial shipping. Any sustained disruption to navigation through the waterway carries serious consequences for international energy markets and global trade flows. This context makes the escalation particularly significant for economies — including India’s — that are heavily dependent on Gulf energy supplies.

What Happens Next

Trump’s declaration leaves the diplomatic track in deep uncertainty. While he indicated his envoys could continue talking, his public posture signals a sharp deterioration in US-Iran relations. CENTCOM warned that its forces “remain postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable when the agreement is not adhered to or obeyed.” The international community, including NATO allies gathered in Ankara, will be watching closely for Tehran’s response and any further escalation in the Strait of Hormuz.