U.S. President Donald Trump canceled the ceasefire agreement and ordered two waves of airstrikes on Iran after attacks on three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. According to The Independent, this sharp turn at the White House took shape following a critical meeting in the Oval Office.
During a Monday evening meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth briefed President Trump on Iranian forces targeting the ships. Trump questioned Iran's intent to negotiate and concluded that Tehran was no longer pursuing that path.
Versailles agreement ends
Just weeks earlier, on June 17, President Trump had praised the memorandum of understanding signed at Versailles and described the Iranian leadership as "rational." However, following the new attacks, Trump declared the deal dead and said continued negotiations were "a waste of time."
US launches military operation
The two waves of airstrikes ordered by Trump targeted Iranian positions, ports, and boats. Oil export sanctions on Iran were also reimposed. The US military said the operations aim to "make Iran pay a heavy price for attacking civilian ships in international waters."
Vice President J. D. Vance warned, "If ships are fired upon, there will be a ruthless military response."
Fundamental issues with the agreement
The Independent wrote that the temporary ceasefire agreement carried the seeds of failure from the start. The deal did not address the most complex issues such as Iran's nuclear program and navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Former U.S. State Department official Nate Swanson said, "The agreement actually solved nothing; it only postponed the core disputes to a later date."
Despite the military escalation, Trump did not completely close the diplomatic channel, saying negotiators could continue talks. However, The Independent noted that less than six weeks remain and hopes for a lasting solution are limited.
