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

Former President Donald Trump announced on Friday that a month-old ceasefire with Iran is "OVER," while simultaneously stating that the United States has agreed to continue diplomatic talks at Tehran's request. The conflicting signals inject fresh uncertainty into a volatile conflict that has recently escalated, directly impacting global energy markets.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, "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!"

Conflicting Accounts on Diplomacy

Iranian officials disputed Trump's characterization of the events. A spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, cited by state television, said Tehran had not requested talks with Washington but had agreed to host a Qatari mediator. This follows reports that Qatari negotiators were in Tehran on Friday to de-escalate tensions.

Separately, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is expected to visit Oman to discuss the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the ISNA news agency. The diplomatic maneuvering comes after a week of renewed military conflict that has threatened to derail a fragile peace process.

Renewed Hostilities and U.S. Demands

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The declaration follows a significant escalation in the region. The conflict, which began on February 28, saw renewed fighting this week after three Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers came under fire. The U.S. responded with strikes on Iranian sites, which prompted Iran to launch its own strikes against U.S. military facilities in Gulf states.

Senior U.S. officials said Washington is demanding that Iran publicly guarantee that all shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz will remain open and that attacks on vessels will cease. According to Iran’s Health Ministry, U.S. strikes in six Iranian cities on Wednesday and Thursday killed at least 17 people and wounded 115.

Oil Markets on Edge

The renewed conflict in the vital waterway has had a direct impact on energy prices. Crude oil experienced its biggest weekly rise in eight weeks as traders priced in the heightened geopolitical risk.

• The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint, responsible for transporting about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments before the war.
• U.S. gasoline inventories fell by 1.9 million barrels last week, putting them nearly 10 million barrels below the five-year average for this time of year, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
• The drop in supply has added to price pressures for consumers, with gasoline stocks now running below seasonal norms across all U.S. regions.