US President Donald Trump has said he is “not sure” if he wants to make a deal with Iranian leaders after the two sides traded military ⁠strikes this week. The US leader had declared the ceasefire in Iran “over” in an extraordinary rant at the Nato summit in Ankara, just hours after the US launched fresh strikes.

The US has begun carrying out airstrikes on Iran following several threats issued by Donald Trump earlier on Wednesday as he declared the ceasefire was “over.”

US Central Command said American forces were attempting “to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”

“The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway.”

It comes after Trump threatened to “hit Iran hard again” as he spoke to reporters on Wednesday.

When asked about the deal at the Nato summit, Trump said: “As far as I’m concerned, it’s just a waste of time dealing with them.”

Sitting next to NATO secretary general Mark Rutte at the military alliance’s summit, the president said US negotiators could continue talks but said he saw it as “a waste of time.”

“I’ll speak to our negotiators. They want to negotiate – they’re good people…. but they have to come back to me.”

While Donald Trump did not rule out a continuation of the ongoing peace talks, this latest exchange of words and strikes is yet another test of a ceasefire which looks increasingly fragile. The duration and intensity of any subsequent US strikes on Iran should provide a clearer picture.

Trump’s comments have prompted responses from several Iranian officials.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei released a statement on Wednesday accusing the US of violations of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) – an agreement between Iran and the US to work towards ending the conflict.

The ministry highlighted that the US, despite the explicit provision of the fifth clause of the memorandum – which emphasizes Iran’s responsibility in determining arrangements for the safe passage of ships through the Strait – has challenged this clause and violated, as it said, the agreement’s structure through its “unilateral actions” and “aggressive attacks” against Iran.

Saudi Bahri says VLCC Wedyan involved in Strait of Hormuz incident, vessel and crew safe

Saudi Arabia shipping company Bahri confirmed Wednesday that one of its very large crude carriers (VLCCs) was involved in an incident while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on July 7, adding that all crew members were safe.

Bahri said in a statement that the VLCC Wedyan (IMO: 9524970) was involved in the incident while transiting outbound through the Strait of Hormuz.

The company said all crew members and personnel on board were safe and accounted for, with no injuries reported.

The vessel’s cargo remains secure, and the ship remains in a seaworthy condition, it added.

Bahri said it immediately notified the relevant authorities after the incident and is working closely with them and other maritime stakeholders while maintaining continuous contact with the vessel’s crew.

“The safety of our people, the protection of the marine environment, and the safe management of the vessel remain our highest priorities,” the company stressed.

The incident came amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz after two other commercial vessels were reportedly hit while transiting the strategic waterway.

Nakilat confirms LNG carrier Al Rekayyat hit by projectile; crew safe, no environmental impact

Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) confirmed Tuesday that its LNG carrier Al Rekayyat was hit by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, July 7.

None of the crew members on board were injured, and there is no impact on the environment as a result of this incident.

In a statement, Nakilat said it remains in close coordination with the vessel and its crew, and continues to monitor the situation closely.

“The safety of our people, the protection of the environment, and the integrity of our assets remain Nakilat’s highest priorities,” the statement reads. 

US Central Command says forces hit over 80 targets

The US Central Command earlier said that it renewed attacks on Iran in retaliation for strikes on three commercial vessels transiting the strait.

In a separate post on X Tuesday, CENTCOM said its forces hit over 80 targets with precision munitions on July 7, including air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radar sites, as well as anti-ship missile capabilities.

It added that more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small boats in and near the strait were hit, so as to degrade Iran’s ability to attack international commerce.

UAE MoFA says it condemns attack on Saudi’s Wedyan tanker

In a statement on Wednesday, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said the attack constitutes a grave threat to the safety and security of international navigation and represents a dangerous escalation which undermines the security and stability of one of the most critical waterways in the world.

The UAE expressed its solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its full support for all measures aimed at safeguarding the security and safety of its vessels and national interests, and ensuring the freedom of navigation in regional and international waters.

The ministry also stressed in its statement that “this attack constitutes a flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2817, which affirmed the importance of freedom of navigation and rejected the targeting of commercial vessels or the obstruction of international maritime routes.”

It emphasized that targeting commercial shipping and exploiting the Strait of Hormuz as a tool of economic coercion or blackmail are unacceptable acts that constitute a direct threat to the stability of the region, global energy security, and the safety of international trade flows.

Iran rejects Qatar’s allegation over incident involving Qatar-linked vessel in Hormuz

Iran rejected on Wednesday Qatar’s allegation over reported incident involving the Qatar-linked vessel in Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei expressed regret over the Qatari Foreign Ministry’s accusation against Iran regarding the alleged attack on a Qatar-linked vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, July 7, describing the allegation as questionable contrary to the principle of good neighborliness and unacceptable.