US Strikes Iran After Ceasefire Collapse
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- US Central Command launched early-morning strikes on Iran on Sunday, targeting drone, missile, naval, and surveillance sites to degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping.
- Trump authorized the strikes and declared the June ceasefire 'over' after Iran attacked vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, including the M/V GFS Galaxy, leaving a crew member missing.
- Iran reported explosions on Qeshm Island, Sirik, Jask, and near Bandar Abbas, and claimed it has shut the Strait of Hormuz to traffic, asserting sovereignty over the waterway.
- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei accused US allies of enabling aggression by hosting American military bases, calling them legitimate targets under international law.
- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to resume negotiations and avoid further escalation, citing 6,000 stranded seafarers due to the conflict.
- The June memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, meant to halt hostilities and ensure open passage through the Strait of Hormuz, is effectively unravelling amid mutual accusations of violations.
Why it matters: The collapse of the 60-day ceasefire agreement risks prolonged conflict in a critical oil transit zone, directly threatening global shipping and energy markets. With Iran restricting the Strait of Hormuz and the US conducting repeated strikes, the potential for wider regional escalation grows, and 6,000 seafarers remain stranded.
