Dr. Shariful Haque Priom

US President Donald Trump has declared the ceasefire between the United States and Iran effectively over, following a new round of military strikes and retaliatory attacks that have sharply escalated tensions in the Persian Gulf.

The announcement came after the US military launched a series of strikes against Iranian ground and naval targets, with the Pentagon saying the operation was carried out in response to what it described as Iranian attacks on three commercial tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes targeted dozens of military sites linked to Iran’s ground forces and navy. CENTCOM said the operation was a direct response to what it called “unwarranted aggression” by Tehran and accused Iran of violating the ceasefire agreement by attacking commercial shipping in one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors.

Iran, however, presented a different account of the incident. Iranian media reported that one of the vessels involved, allegedly linked to Qatar, ignored repeated warnings while passing through the Strait of Hormuz. A government source cited by Iranian state media said all commercial traffic through the vital waterway should receive prior approval from Tehran, suggesting the tanker had entered the area without authorization.

The renewed confrontation quickly expanded beyond the maritime domain. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had launched missile and drone strikes against US military assets in Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation for the American operation. The IRGC also claimed to have shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper surveillance drone during the exchange, although US officials had not publicly confirmed that claim.

Speaking on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye, President Trump delivered a strongly worded response, accusing Iran’s leadership of acting in bad faith and declaring there was little value in continuing diplomatic engagement.

“I don’t want to deal with them,” Trump told reporters, adding that while American negotiators remained available, he believed further negotiations would be “a waste of time.” He also accused Iranian leaders of repeatedly misleading the United States and confirmed that, in his view, the ceasefire agreement was no longer in effect.

The ceasefire had been established under a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding signed last month, ending weeks of military confrontation between Washington and Tehran. Under the agreement, both countries committed to permanently halt military operations across multiple theaters, including Lebanon, while working toward a comprehensive peace arrangement within 60 days.

The framework also outlined several confidence-building measures. Washington agreed to gradually lift its naval blockade and begin releasing restricted Iranian financial assets. In return, Tehran pledged to make its best efforts to ensure the safe passage of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz during the interim period.

Additionally, Iran reaffirmed that it would not pursue nuclear weapons and agreed to transfer its stockpile of enriched uranium under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency. However, several key issues—including Iran’s future uranium enrichment rights—were left unresolved and scheduled for discussion during final negotiations.

The latest exchange of military action now raises serious questions about whether the diplomatic process can be revived. Analysts warn that renewed hostilities could further destabilize the Gulf region, disrupt global energy markets, and increase risks to international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil exports.

With both sides trading accusations of violating the ceasefire and military operations once again underway, prospects for resuming negotiations appear increasingly uncertain, leaving regional security and international diplomacy facing another period of heightened instability.