US strikes Iran after ceasefire collapses over Hormuz
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- Trump declared the 60-day Iran ceasefire MOU 'over' on Wednesday after Iranian attacks on commercial ships, pivoting to a fight over the Strait of Hormuz
- The US military launched a second round of strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, including attacks on infrastructure targets inside Iran for the first time in months
- Iran retaliated with attacks on US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, while top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned the strait would reopen only on Tehran's terms
- Trump later told reporters Iranian officials had 'called a little while ago' wanting a deal, but questioned whether they'd honor it and Iranian officials did not confirm any direct outreach
- US officials said the White House has room to escalate because hundreds of oil tankers transited the strait in recent weeks, easing fears of an immediate oil price spike
- The unraveling stems from conflicting interpretations of the MOU's strait provisions — the US routed ships through a southern lane near the Omani coast without Tehran's approval, which Iranian officials said violated the deal
Why it matters: The original US goal of degrading Iran's missile capabilities and destroying its nuclear program has expanded into an open-ended fight over the world's most critical energy chokepoint, with Vance pledging continued strikes if Iran keeps attacking shipping. Tehran's leverage crumbled as financial institutions refused to process its oil and no frozen funds were released, stripping the ceasefire's economic incentive.
