Trump Declares Iran Ceasefire Over, Says Talks to Continue Amid Escalating Tensions

President Donald Trump said the U.S. and Iran have agreed to continue diplomatic talks but declared that a ceasefire reached last month is now "OVER!". The announcement, made on his Truth Social platform, follows a significant escalation in hostilities that has rattled global energy markets.

Renewed Conflict Hits Oil Markets

The declaration comes after a week of renewed conflict in the Gulf. The hostilities reportedly began with attacks on three Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers, which prompted U.S. strikes on Iranian sites. Iran responded with its own strikes on U.S. military installations in the region.

The escalation has had a direct impact on commodity prices. Crude oil futures posted their biggest weekly increase in eight weeks as the conflict threatened supply through the critical Strait of Hormuz. Before the war, which began on February 28, the waterway was a conduit for approximately one-fifth of global oil supplies.

U.S. officials are now demanding that Iran publicly guarantee it will cease attacks on shipping and ensure all lanes in the strait remain open. In a parallel diplomatic effort, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is set to visit Oman to discuss arrangements for safe passage, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.

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Diplomatic Channels Remain Open

Despite the end of the ceasefire, both sides have indicated a willingness to talk. Trump stated, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue 'talks.' We have agreed to do so." However, Iran disputed this characterization, with state television reporting that it had not requested talks but had agreed to host a Qatari mediator.

Qatari negotiators were reportedly in Iran on Friday to de-escalate tensions, a person with knowledge of the situation told Reuters. The U.S. strikes earlier in the week killed at least 17 people and wounded 115 across six Iranian cities, according to Iran’s Health Ministry.