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

Former U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that a month-old ceasefire with Iran was "OVER!" but that the United States had agreed to Iran's request to continue diplomatic talks. The announcement injects fresh uncertainty into a volatile region following a week of renewed military exchanges that have rattled global energy markets.

Diplomatic Discord

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

Iranian officials disputed Trump's characterization of the events. Citing a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Iranian state television reported that Tehran had not requested direct talks but had agreed to host a Qatari mediator. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that Qatari negotiators were in Tehran on Friday to discuss de-escalation and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, senior U.S. officials said Washington is demanding that Iran publicly guarantee it will cease attacks on commercial shipping in the strategic waterway. "They’re either going to give us that statement or we’re not having a good outcome for them," one official said.

Market Impact

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The renewed hostilities have had a direct impact on energy prices, a sensitive issue ahead of the U.S. congressional elections in November. Crude oil benchmarks posted their biggest weekly increase in eight weeks as traders priced in the heightened geopolitical risk.

The conflict has also strained fuel supplies. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that domestic 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. Before the conflict, the Strait of Hormuz was a conduit for about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

A Week of Renewed Conflict

Trump's declaration follows a significant escalation in the five-month-old conflict. The recent flare-up began after three Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers came under fire. The U.S. responded with strikes on military sites inside Iran.

Tehran retaliated with its own strikes on U.S. military sites in nearby Gulf states. According to Iran’s Health Ministry, the U.S. strikes on Wednesday and Thursday killed at least 17 people and wounded 115 across six cities.