President Donald Trump declared the recent ceasefire with Iran over on Friday, stating he believes the agreement is no longer in effect. Despite the collapse of the truce, the President noted that the United States and Iran have agreed to continue talks. Trump expressed significant skepticism regarding the future of a deal, remarking that he is not sure he wants one anymore and suggesting the U.S. should “finish the job.” He simultaneously insisted that continued military attacks do not necessarily mean a return to war or long-term action.
President Donald Trump and the Termination of the Iran Ceasefire
The uncertainty in Trump’s messaging, paired with his approval of back-to-back military strikes, has left major questions regarding the trajectory of the conflict. This volatility occurs just weeks after difficult diplomacy aimed at reaching an initial deal between the two adversaries. The current rhetoric may be a strategy to increase pressure on Tehran to stop targeting ships transporting oil and natural gas in the Strait of Hormuz and to bend to U.S. demands regarding its nuclear program.
The Breakdown of the Ceasefire and Continued Hostilities
The conflict, which began on February 28 with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, saw a period of relative calm before a week of renewed hostilities. The recent escalation included three Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers coming under fire, prompting U.S. strikes on Iranian sites and retaliatory strikes by Iran on U.S. military positions in Persian Gulf states. Although no fresh attacks were reported on Friday, regional mediators are working to salvage efforts to permanently end the war.
The U.S. military has conducted back-to-back strikes intended to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten shipping. The White House maintains that these actions do not signal a return to long-term conflict, yet the confusion surrounding the President’s mixed messaging persists.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei and the Stalled Islamabad Negotiations
Diplomatic Standoff in Islamabad and Regional Mediation
High-stakes negotiations in Islamabad ended without progress as both sides proved unable to bridge longstanding differences. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated that Tehran’s position remains anchored in its past dealings with Washington, noting that Iran has neither forgotten nor intends to forget what it describes as repeated breaches of commitments by the United States, alongside years of hostile actions. Baqaei further referenced “heinous crimes” during his assessment.
For more on this story, see Oil Prices Climb as U.S. Airstrikes Intensify Near Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a central sticking point in the Islamabad talks. The IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News reported that negotiations were stalled by what it termed Washington’s “excessive demands.” A Pakistani source cited by CNN confirmed that the dispute over control of the strait remains unresolved. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had previously stated that safe passage would be ensured for two weeks through coordination with the country’s armed forces, a condition for the truce that has now been overtaken by events.
International concern remains high. China and Russia are among the nations actively communicating with Tehran, reflecting a shared concern among global powers that localized conflict could expand. An upcoming meeting in Istanbul aims to prevent further conflict, with officials from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Oman, Pakistan, and the UAE invited at the foreign-minister level. The meeting is expected to bring U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi together to bridge gaps that widened after talks collapsed last summer.
Mohammad Qalibaf and the Hardened Stance of the Iranian Leadership
The Nuclear Core and Leadership Dynamics
Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Mohammad Qalibaf—a former mayor of Tehran and close ally of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—has delivered a stark assessment, stating that Tehran places no trust in written guarantees or verbal commitments from Western powers. This skepticism is echoed within the leadership as negotiations over the nuclear program remain stalled.
Furthermore, Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, briefly referred to plans for the strait in a written message on Thursday, which marked the 40th day after his father’s killing.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and the Treatment of Aid Activists
Separately, on May 20, 2026, Israel’s treatment of aid flotilla activists drew global condemnation. Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir shared videos showing him taunting detained activists, some of whom were seen with their hands tied behind their backs. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated, “It is intolerable that these protesters, among whom there are many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment, which violates human dignity.”
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