By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
The US has carried out a major wave of airstrikes on more than 80 Iranian military targets after attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, dramatically escalating tensions in the Gulf even as President Donald Trump declared that the interim agreement with Tehran was “over.”
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the two-day NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump said he no longer believed the temporary understanding with Iran had any value, although he indicated that diplomatic engagement had not been completely abandoned.
“For me, I think it’s over. It’s just a waste of time dealing with them,” Trump said when asked about the status of the interim agreement. He added, however, that talks aimed at reaching a broader peace arrangement would continue, signalling that Washington was still leaving the door open for diplomacy despite the latest military escalation.
Trump’s remarks came just hours after the US launched coordinated strikes on more than 80 Iranian military installations, including missile launch sites, drone facilities, command-and-control centres and logistics depots. The operation was carried out in response to attacks on commercial shipping in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil transit routes.
US officials accused Iran and its allied forces of threatening international maritime security and disrupting global trade by targeting merchant vessels passing through the narrow waterway. Washington said the strikes were intended to degrade Iran’s military capabilities and deter further attacks rather than trigger a wider regional conflict.
Iran strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as a blatant violation of its sovereignty and international law. Iranian officials warned that the country reserved the right to respond at a time and place of its choosing, raising fears of further military confrontation across the Middle East.
The latest escalation has heightened concerns over the security of energy supplies, as nearly a fifth of the world’s seaborne crude oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping companies have begun reviewing routes, while energy markets remain on edge over the possibility of further disruptions.
The strikes also cast a shadow over diplomatic efforts that had been underway to reduce hostilities between Washington and Tehran. While Trump’s assertion that the interim agreement was effectively finished underscored the deepening mistrust between the two countries, his insistence that negotiations would continue suggested the US administration was still seeking a long-term political settlement.
The developments are being closely watched by NATO allies and major world powers, many of whom have urged both sides to exercise restraint and prevent the crisis from spiralling into a broader regional war. Analysts warned that any retaliatory action by Iran could further destabilise the Gulf and have significant implications for global energy markets, maritime trade and regional security.