Trump Reaffirms Ceasefire Ends as U.S. Agrees to Iran Negotiations

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that the United States has agreed to continue negotiations with Iran, even as he reiterated that the ceasefire between the two nations is officially over.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

This development follows a week of intense military escalation that saw both nations trade strikes, threatening the stability of the region and the security of global energy shipments.

Military Escalation and the Collapse of the Truce

The recent spike in hostilities was triggered by attacks on three Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. In response, the U.S. military launched airstrikes against 90 targets across Iran, including missile launchers and an airport runway. The U.S. Central Command stated these strikes were intended to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the critical waterway, through which a significant portion of the world’s traded oil and natural gas passes.

Iran responded to the U.S. campaign by launching missiles and drones at U.S. military infrastructure in neighboring Gulf states. Reports confirmed sirens sounding in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters, as well as strikes targeting Kuwait, Qatar, and Jordan. Iranian state media reported that the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard fired missiles at a U.S. base in Jordan.

The Iranian Health Ministry reported that at least 14 people were killed and 78 wounded during the two days of American airstrikes, with most casualties identified as members of the armed forces. Meanwhile, unclaimed airstrikes hit areas across southern Iran, including locations near the country’s sole nuclear power plant in Bushehr, raising questions about potential third-party involvement in the conflict.

Diplomatic Efforts and the Role of Mediation

As military tensions flared, a Qatari delegation arrived in Iran on Friday to serve as a mediator. According to a source with knowledge of the situation, the visit—coordinated with the United States—aims to de-escalate the conflict and facilitate discussions regarding navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The negotiations also seek to address the implementation of a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding and the specific disputes that triggered the latest round of fighting.

In addition to Qatari efforts, the foreign ministers of Egypt and Qatar have urged both Washington and Tehran to prioritize diplomacy. Egypt’s Badr Abdelatty and Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called on all parties to return to the negotiating table.

President Trump indicated that he intends to consult with his team of negotiators, including businessman Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, regarding the path forward. However, he maintained that the responsibility for resuming productive talks rests with Tehran.

Stakes for Global Energy and Regional Stability

The conflict has placed significant pressure on the global economy. Although oil prices eased on Friday, they remained on track for weekly gains of 5% due to fears that the fighting could halt energy shipments. Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which had shown signs of recovery following a tentative deal last month, appeared to slow on Friday as shipping companies responded to the renewed violence.

The current instability marks a sharp reversal from the interim deal reached last month, which was intended to end a four-month conflict. The ceasefire, which began on April 8, had been repeatedly disrupted by low-level clashes before the recent escalation.

Summary of Recent Developments

Event	Status/Impact
U.S.-Iran Ceasefire	Declared “over” by President Trump.
Diplomatic Status	U.S. agreed to continue talks at Iran’s request.
Strait of Hormuz	Tanker traffic slowed; navigation remains a primary point of dispute.
Regional Conflict	U.S. and Iran exchanged strikes; U.S. forces hit 90 Iranian targets.

President Trump, who has expressed frustration over the inability to definitively end the war, remains skeptical of the diplomatic process. Earlier in the week, he labeled Iranian officials as “scum” and “sick people,” stating he would not deal with them further. Despite these comments, the administration has left the door open for the mediated talks currently underway in Iran.

Find more reporting in our World section.