Trump Warns of Possible Strong Strike on Iran Tonight

After the United States conducted fresh military strikes and revoked an exemption that allowed Iran to sell oil, President Donald Trump cautioned that Washington would likely strike Tehran again tonight.

Speaking to reporters at the NATO summit in Turkey before meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump stated, "I will give a simple warning: we will hit them hard tonight."

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump declared that the temporary agreement to end the war with Iran had "ended," following new Iranian attacks on US bases in the Gulf region.

When asked before the NATO summit in Turkey whether the memorandum of understanding was over, Trump replied, "That is a very interesting question. For me, I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them."

Addressing journalists in Ankara, he described Iran's leadership as "scum," calling them "sick people" led by "sick people," and added, "For me, dealing with them is just a waste of time."

Although Trump has occasionally retracted some of his threats toward Iran, oil prices rose and stock markets declined following his latest comments.

The renewed hostilities have also heightened safety and security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping data showed at least four oil and gas tankers turned back instead of attempting to cross the vital waterway for supply routes.

While prices remain well below the record highs exceeding $120 per barrel recorded at the peak of the conflict, they are sufficient to raise fresh inflation worries in the bond market, especially since months of conflict have reduced global oil inventories.

Previously, the United States launched new military strikes and revoked an exemption that permitted Iran to sell oil, responding to attacks targeting three oil tankers in the strait.

The US Central Command reported that among the targets hit were more than 60 small boats belonging to the Revolutionary Guard, aiming to impose a heavy cost on Iran in retaliation for its attacks on the tankers, which violated the ceasefire.

In a statement, the command added, "The unjustified aggression by Iranian forces constitutes a blatant and serious violation of the ceasefire and undermines freedom of navigation."

Before the NATO summit, alliance Secretary-General Mark Rutte described the new US strikes on Iran as "very necessary."

European Union foreign policy official Kaya Kallas stated on the platform X that "the exchange of fire between the United States and Iran further complicates already tense talks aimed at ending the war... Iran’s attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait are unacceptable."

Iranian Press TV reported hearing several explosions in southern Kharg Island, though the US Central Command did not specify the island, which exports 90% of Iran’s crude oil.

An American official told Reuters that the strikes targeted Iranian air defense systems, coastal surveillance systems, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, and drone launch sites.

Under the temporary agreement between the United States and Iran, the US Treasury Department issued a general license on June 22 permitting the sale of crude oil and petrochemical and petroleum products originating from Iran until August 21. When this license was revoked on Tuesday, Iran was granted a deadline until July 17 to conclude any transactions.