Donald Trump accused Iran of violating a two-week ceasefire after Iranian forces allegedly fired at ships in the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the gunfire targeted vessels including a French ship and a British freighter, calling the incident a “total violation” of the agreement.
Despite rising tensions, Trump announced that U.S. officials would travel to Islamabad for another round of peace talks with Iran. The delegation is expected to include JD Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. Trump expressed confidence that a deal would be reached, stating it would happen “the nice way or the hard way,” in remarks to Jonathan Karl.
At the same time, Trump warned that the U.S. could launch further strikes on Iran if negotiations fail. Iranian officials responded with similar resolve, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf stating that Iran’s armed forces remain ready for conflict even during negotiations.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a central point of contention. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has restricted shipping in the area following earlier U.S. and Israeli strikes. Although Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said the waterway would remain open during the ceasefire, enforcement tightened again amid a U.S. naval blockade. Iranian spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei criticized the blockade as unlawful and a violation of the ceasefire.
The IRGC confirmed it fired on vessels attempting to bypass its control. Meanwhile, Trump reiterated threats to target Iran’s infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, if a deal is not reached. His remarks have drawn criticism over whether such actions could constitute war crimes, further highlighting the fragile and escalating situation.
