NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte greets US President Donald Trump during the NATO summit in Ankara.
Day 131 | Trump says Iran ceasefire “over” after fighting flares
US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was "over" on Wednesday, after fighting flared between the countries sparked by Iranian attacks on ships in the vital Strait of Hormuz.
The strategic shipping route remains a flashpoint in the conflict, which began in late February with massive US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Tehran insists on controlling the waterway, saying it will charge fees for passage and threatening to hit vessels that deviate from its authorised route.
Its military has struck at least three ships in recent days, which prompted extensive US strikes against Iranian targets on Tuesday followed by retaliatory attacks from Iran on Gulf countries.
"As far as I'm concerned, it's over," Trump said at a NATO summit in Turkey on Wednesday when asked if the truce was intact, saying "It's just a waste of time dealing with them".
"I'll let our wonderful negotiators keep talking if they want, but I don't see it. I don't like these people."
Oil prices jumped five percent after Trump's remarks.
Both sides reported hitting dozens of targets, placing fresh strain on an interim deal to end their war and pushing oil prices to their highest level in two weeks.
Iranian state media on Wednesday reported a wave of explosions around the strait, including six on the island of Qeshm, seven in the city of Sirik and more in the major port city of Bandar Abbas.
It later also reported a series of blasts in the port city of Bushehr, which hosts the country's only civilian nuclear power plant and lies near Kharg island, the main oil terminal through which 90 percent of the nation's crude exports transit.
State media said a member of the military's Revolutionary Guards was killed in Iran's southwest.
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Read more: Day 132 | US launches new strikes on Iran as Trump warns of more attacks
US Navy maintains at least 19 warships near Iran: CNN
The United States Navy currently has an expansive maritime strike force of at least 19 warships deployed in close proximity to Iran, military sources told CNN late Wednesday, highlighting an immense buildup of American naval power positioned to protect regional shipping lanes amid active military operations.
Blasts trigger widespread power outages in Chabahar: IRNA
Widespread blackouts have been reported across parts of the strategic southeastern port city of Chabahar following a series of loud explosions, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), amid a major expansion of military operations in the region.
US strikes target IRGC coastal radars, missile sites: Axios
A US official told Axios on Wednesday that the latest American airstrikes represent a major expansion in scope compared to previous days, specifically targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) coastal radars, active anti-ship missile positions, and air defense networks.
US launches fresh wave of airstrikes against Iran: CENTCOM
US Central Command announced late Wednesday that American forces have initiated additional military strikes against Iran to degrade its capability to target global commercial shipping, holding Tehran directly accountable for recent attacks on civilian crews in the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway.
Iranian air defenses engage hostile targets over Bandar Abbas: Mehr
Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency reports that air defense systems have opened fire to intercept hostile targets in the skies surrounding the strategic southern port city of Bandar Abbas near the Strait of Hormuz.
Explosion heard in Bandar Abbas: Mehr
A powerful blast was heard late Wednesday in the strategic southern port city of Bandar Abbas, according to Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency, with emergency crews mobilizing near the Strait of Hormuz as officials work to verify the source and cause of the detonation.
Pakistan expresses profound concern over regional escalation
- Pakistan urged all sides to exercise maximum restraint.
- Islamabad called for dialogue and diplomacy to prevent renewed conflict.
- The Foreign Ministry warned that further escalation threatens regional stability.
- Pakistan urged all parties to honor the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official statement on Wednesday evening expressing its profound alarm over the sharp escalation of military tensions across the Middle East.
The foreign ministry warned that the outbreak of a renewed conflict is not in the interest of any party and could carry catastrophic consequences for regional security architectures.
In an effort to prevent further kinetic friction, Islamabad urged all involved actors to exercise maximum restraint.
The diplomatic corps called on all sides to completely refrain from any unilateral actions or provocative maneuvers that could directly undermine regional peace and stability.
No alternative to diplomacy
The Pakistani government reiterated its long-standing position on conflict resolution, asserting that there is no viable alternative to the continuation of structured dialogue, mutual engagement, and active diplomacy to achieve a durable peace.
Concluding the ministerial declaration, Pakistan directed an explicit appeal to the primary stakeholders, urging them to fully honor and fulfill their respective commitments outlined under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The ministry emphasized that adhering strictly to the established framework is paramount to safeguarding the geopolitical stability of the region.
Trump claims life in danger, as Iran's 'number one target'
- Trump declared the US campaign against Iran a complete success.
- He claimed Iran's senior leadership has been severely weakened.
- Trump said he remains a top target of an Iranian assassination plot.
- He dismissed Europe's role, saying US assistance was sufficient without allied support.
US President Donald Trump delivered an extensive national security address on Wednesday evening, declaring that the US military campaign against Iran has been a complete success.
Trump revealed that recent kinetic engagements followed a major miscalculation by Tehran, which opted to fire upon international commercial shipping vessels despite initially signaling a desire to negotiate a broad political settlement with Washington.
The US President stated that the armed forces retaliated against the maritime attacks with strikes that were "ten times stronger," successfully degrading Iranian military response networks.
Iranian leadership collapse
President Trump claimed that the targeted strikes have fundamentally altered the command structure in Tehran.
According to Trump, Iran's first- and second-tier political and military leaders are now gone, leaving the state apparatus in the hands of "third-level" officials.
The President expressed a strong desire to permanently close the Iranian security file rather than engage in prolonged geopolitical maneuvers with the current leadership group, whom he characterized as notably more rational than their predecessors.
Despite noting an increase in rationality among surviving Iranian officials, Trump reiterated a zero-tolerance policy regarding Tehran's non-conventional ambitions. He pledged that the United States will firmly block any efforts by individuals he described as "madmen" to acquire a functional nuclear weapon.
Assassination threats
The US President also addressed the severe personal security risks resulting from the conflict, stating that his life remains in direct danger.
Trump confirmed that he has been designated as the top high-value target on an official Iranian retaliation list, adding that intelligence indicates Tehran may actively seek to assassinate him.
'Israel' triggers maximum alert, Netanyahu calls Trump: KAN
'Israel' has placed its armed forces on maximum combat readiness following a series of direct strategic consultations between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump regarding active threats from Iran.
The public broadcaster Kan reported on Wednesday that the high-level communications coincide with an immediate, rapid redeployment of American strategic air assets back into the eastern Mediterranean theater.
US aerial tankers surge back to theater
According to intelligence reports leaked to the 'Israeli' Broadcasting Corporation, the United States military began reversing its recent asset drawdowns over the last few hours by moving dozens of heavy aerial refueling aircraft back into 'Israel' and peripheral regional hubs.
Military analysts note that the return of these specialized Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-46 Pegasus fleets is a primary indicator of impending long-range offensive strike readiness, as these planes are structurally essential to sustain fighter jet operations over deep adversarial territory.
Emergency command sessions
Domestically, the 'Israeli' military apparatus has initiated emergency procedures.
'Israeli' military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir convened an extraordinary situational assessment at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv.
The operational review included the entire general staff, head of military intelligence, and the chief of the air force.
The defense command focused heavily on calibrating early-warning arrays and preparing responses for possible multi-arena ballistic missile threats.
This high-priority military posture follows regional friction caused by the collapse of recent maritime understandings and ongoing proxy activity along 'Israel’s' northern and southern perimeters.
'Israeli' military detains Hezbollah Radwan Force operative
- 'Israeli' forces detained a Hezbollah operative in southern Lebanon.
- Indivisual was identified as a member of Hezbollah's Radwan Force.
- Detainee was transferred to Israel for military intelligence interrogation.
The 'Israeli' military announced on Wednesday that its forces apprehended a Hezbollah operative following tactical operations conducted on Tuesday in the Bint Jbeil area of southern Lebanon.
According to the official military statement, the detention took place during an active encounter in the same sector where a separate clash had occurred last Thursday.
The 'Israeli' command identified the detained individual as a member of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, which functions as the organization's frontline commando unit.
Following the encounter, the operative was transferred to 'Israeli' territory for detailed interrogation by Unit 504, a specialized human intelligence branch within the military directorate.
Security operations continue
The security development comes amid persistent cross-border hostilities and localized structural sweeps by 'Israeli' forces operating in the boundary zones of southern Lebanon.
Defense officials reaffirmed that the military intends to maintain its localized operations along the northern theater to neutralize active defensive lines and secure border communities against incoming fire.
Hezbollah has not issued an immediate statement regarding the status of its personnel in the Bint Jbeil sector.
US still deciding what next round of strikes on Iran looks like: CNN
The US is assessing its next steps against Iran as tensions rise and a recent round of strikes puts the two sides’ interim agreement at risk of collapse, a US official familiar with military discussions told CNN.
President Donald Trump said the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran was “over” and warned that US forces could strike Iran again. Speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkiye, Trump said options under consideration could include targeting power plants, desalination facilities, or taking control of Kharg Island.
The US official said overnight strikes from sea and land targeted Iranian positions around the Strait of Hormuz, reducing Iran’s ability to threaten ships passing through the waterway.
Iran has continued warning vessels over radio communications but has not carried out further attacks on ships, the official added.
The heightened tensions also affected plans for the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, which left port earlier than scheduled to position itself for potential defensive and offensive operations. The carrier is expected to conduct defensive missions with its aircraft in the coming hours, according to the official.
Eight Iranian troops reportedly killed in US attacks
Iran’s state news agency IRNA said eight members of the country’s armed forces were killed in US strikes on southern Iran.
According to IRNA, the casualties included personnel from Iran’s army air and naval forces who were killed in attacks on Bandar Abbas and Bushehr.
Ali Khamenei’s funeral processions held in Najaf, Karbala
Tens of thousands of mourners attended funeral processions for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala.
Khamenei’s remains have since returned to Iran, where he is set to be buried in Mashhad on July 9.
The 86-year-old leader was killed in a US-‘Israeli’ attack on his compound in Tehran in late February, according to Iranian authorities.
CENTCOM: Over 20 US warships patrolling Middle East
The United States Central Command announced Wednesday that more than 20 US Navy warships are actively patrolling strategic waterways across the Middle East to enforce security mandates, a high-profile deployment that comes amid volatile naval friction and ongoing efforts to protect vital international shipping lanes.
Today, more than 20 U.S. Navy warships are patrolling waters across the Middle East as CENTCOM forces continue promoting regional security and stability. Last month, U.S. naval warships and aircraft transited the Arabian Sea in close formation, demonstrating unmatched American… pic.twitter.com/gnfRIKAYJl
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 8, 2026
New Air Force One flight plans scrapped, Trump says he'll depart aboard "the former" plane
US President Donald Trump said he will not leave Turkiye aboard his new Qatar-gifted aircraft, instead choosing to fly from Ankara to the UK’s Mildenhall Air Force Base on the former Air Force One.
Trump said the decision was made to allow US service members stationed at Mildenhall to tour the aircraft.
“For old time’s sake, we’ll be taking the former Air Force One,” Trump wrote on social media, adding that the trip would give military personnel a chance to see the new addition to the US Air Force fleet.
The new aircraft, a gift from Qatar estimated to be worth around $400 million, has faced legal, ethical, and national security scrutiny.
The US Air Force said the jet is “safe, secure and equipped with the most advanced technologies necessary to meet the requirements of the presidential mission.” The previous Air Force One, a modified Boeing 747-200, had specialized capabilities including mid-air refueling.
Khamenei's adviser: 'Axis of Resistance' ready to respond
- Iran blames Trump for ending the bilateral MoU.
- Velayati warns US actions risk triggering wider regional conflict.
Ali Akbar Velayati, the senior international affairs adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a fierce warning on Wednesday, declaring that regional proxy forces are fully mobilized following the collapse of diplomatic understandings with Washington.
Velayati stated directly that the "Axis of Resistance" will not maintain silence in the face of ongoing external military actions, warning that its forces currently have "their hands on the trigger."
Trump held responsible
The diplomatic breakdown follows remarks by US President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in Ankara, where he stated that the temporary memorandum of understanding reached with Tehran had officially ended.
Velayati sharply rebuffed the move, asserting that the verbal acknowledgment of the agreement’s cancellation rests squarely on the shoulders of the American president.
He argued that Washington had already committed numerous practical violations before formally walking away from the framework.
American movements pushing to region war
The veteran Iranian diplomat concluded his remarks by warning that recent American naval and troop maneuvers are destabilizing vulnerable security corridors.
According to Velayati, these coordinated shifts will inevitably drag the territory into a wider escalation.
"American actions will push the region toward fire," Velayati stated, emphasizing that Tehran views Western military posturing as a direct threat to its territorial sovereignty and its allied networks across the Levant and the Gulf.
Trump calls Netanyahu ‘a great wartime prime minister’
US President Donald Trump praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him “a great wartime prime minister” and saying no US president has done more for ‘Israel’ than he has.
“Nobody has ever done anything for Israel like me,” Trump said, citing the US recognition of Jerusalem as ‘Israel’s’ capital. He added that he and Netanyahu “worked with each other very closely.”
Asked whether he wanted Netanyahu to be re-elected, Trump said he was not involved in 'Israeli' politics but suggested Netanyahu should be popular because “he did a very good job.”
“I don’t know anything about his politics,” Trump said.
Trump says US may remove Syria from terrorism list
- Trump warned Iran US could target its power and water infrastructure if necessary.
- He said buried nuclear materials had been located.
- Trump also defended his support for Israel and predicted an eventual Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
US President Donald Trump delivered a series of striking foreign policy declarations at the conclusion of the NATO summit in Ankara, issuing direct military threats against Tehran alongside unprecedented diplomatic openings toward Damascus.
Trump warned Iran that the United States possesses the capabilities to dismantle its vital infrastructure if tensions continue to escalate.
Nuclear intelligence on Iran
US President Trump stated that if necessary, the United States will destroy electricity and water plants in Iran, though he noted he does not wish to do so.
Referring to the Iranian leadership, Trump stated, "These are crazy people and they should have been eliminated 47 years ago." He claimed the US has already made significant progress against Tehran by dismantling its conventional military.
Trump explicitly assured that Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon, revealing that U.S. intelligence has successfully located Iranian nuclear materials buried deep inside mountain networks.
He asserted that the US military possesses specialized equipment designed to extract those materials.
Addressing the economic side effects of kinetic action, Trump noted that oil prices rise whenever the US strikes Iran, adding, "that is fine."
Syrian pivot
In a major policy shift, Trump confirmed that the United States has officially lifted sanctions on Syria, a move he described as a massive boost for the country.
He revealed that Washington is actively considering removing Syria from the US State Sponsors of Terrorism list.
In exchange, Trump noted that Syria could provide vital assistance to the US regarding the containment of Hezbollah.
Regarding regional leadership dynamics, Trump stated that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is not a friend of 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, he emphasized that Turkey remains a critical US ally and a vital NATO member.
Trump reaffirmed his administration's deep coordination with Netanyahu, stating they have achieved a great deal together.
He declared that 'Israel' would have disappeared from existence entirely had any other individual been serving as President of the United States.
Concluding his regional security assessment, Trump predicted that 'Israel' will soon withdraw its military forces from Lebanon.
Congress review
US President Donald Trump has officially notified Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa that he has initiated the removal of Syria from the US State Sponsors of Terrorism list, triggering a mandatory 45-day congressional notification period before the historic decision takes final effect.
This article has been updated according to its developments.
'We are waiting for you,' says Iranian lawmaker after Trump threatens to attack key island
Iranian officials have responded to US President Donald Trump’s threat to target Kharg Island, a major hub for Iranian oil exports, with warnings of retaliation.
Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, wrote on X: “Come, we are waiting for you,” adding that Iran would ensure “not a single American soldier will return alive.”
Ali Akbar Velayati, Iran’s former foreign minister, criticized what he called the “latest escalation,” saying Tehran had previously warned that “the region is no place for the political gambling of small nations.”
Velayati added that Iran “stands with its finger on the trigger” to defend against threats, as tensions continue to rise between Tehran and Washington.
