Axios: with Iran ceasefire "over," Trump shifts to battle for Hormuz
Kyiv • UNN
The US is prepared for a prolonged escalation with Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump announced the end of the 60-day ceasefire after new attacks.
The White House is preparing for what could become a multi-day or even multi-week exchange of strikes with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz. The duration and severity of the new campaign depend entirely on Tehran's next steps, Axios reports citing U.S. officials, writes UNN.
Details
The war, which began with the goal of reducing Iran's missile potential and destroying the remnants of its nuclear program, has turned into an endless struggle for the world's most important energy hub.
A U.S. official said the current escalation could last a day or two, a week, or a month, depending on whether Iran continues its attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
"We're going to give them a bit of a slap so they understand we're not joking," a U.S. official said.
Diplomacy has now reached a dead end, and military pressure is once again at the center of President Trump's strategy.
On Wednesday, Trump said the 60-day ceasefire outlined in the memorandum of understanding was "over" after an exchange of strikes triggered by Iranian attacks on commercial vessels.
The U.S. then launched a second round of strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, including attacks on infrastructure targets inside Iran for the first time in months.
Iran responded with attacks on U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, insisting it will not abandon its claims to control over the strait.
Shortly after, Trump made it clear the U.S. is ready for de-escalation, telling reporters on Air Force One that Iranian officials "called a little earlier" and "want to make a deal."
It is unclear which call is being referred to, and Iranian officials did not immediately confirm any direct appeals.
"I just don't know if they're worthy of making a deal. I don't know that they're going to do honor the deal," Trump added. "They're sort of crazy, to be honest."
Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the U.S. of "intimidation and broken promises" and warned that the strait will only reopen on Tehran's terms.
"If you strike, you will be struck," Ghalibaf wrote on X. "The Strait of Hormuz will open only under 'Iranian arrangements,' not under American threats."
Opening the Strait of Hormuz and restoring freedom of navigation for commercial vessels has become a central goal of the Trump administration, primarily to stabilize global energy markets.
For Iran, maintaining control over the strait has become a key goal of any war-ending agreement.
This issue was a central provision of the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, and conflicting interpretations of the strait provisions are now leading to the collapse of the deal, the publication notes.
The memorandum of understanding requires Iran to ensure safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. But shortly after the agreement was signed, Iranian officials accused the U.S. of violating the deal by directing vessels along the southern corridor near Oman's coast without Tehran's approval.
U.S. officials say the White House believes it has more room for escalation, as hundreds of oil tankers have managed to leave the Persian Gulf through the strait in recent weeks.
This has eased concerns within the administration that a resumption of clashes would immediately trigger a significant rise in oil prices, officials said.
A U.S. official said the current escalation is linked to frustration among more radical elements in Iran's fractured leadership, who believe the memorandum of understanding has brought no real benefit to Tehran.
Iran has lost its influence in the Strait of Hormuz as hundreds of vessels have taken the southern route near Oman's coast, the official said.
Despite the lifting of U.S. sanctions, Iran has struggled to sell oil, as financial institutions have not approved transactions and countries have been reluctant to rely on temporary waivers.
No frozen Iranian funds have been released, as Iran has not yet taken the nuclear steps stipulated by the agreement, the publication writes.
The framework agreement brokered by the US between Israel and Lebanon, with US mediation, made the Lebanese part of the memorandum of understanding unnecessary, an official said.
"Part of the Iranian leadership was unhappy with all of this," a US official said.
"They started shooting, and we decided it was time to push back. This is a process. We have patience. If we don't feel we are getting the deal we want, we are not going to do it," he noted.
US Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday that the US position is simple: the Strait of Hormuz must remain open.
"If they try to close it, there will be a response from the US military," Vance said.
"They can either follow this, or have exactly what happened to them last night. This will simply continue until they open this strait and stop shooting at ships," he indicated.