Iran Cancels Truce, Announces Full Military Stance After U.S. Air Strikes

Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has stated that the nation’s military enjoys “complete freedom of action” to counter what it perceives as enemy aggression, following a U.S. strike that resulted in the deaths of seven Iranian soldiers.

These attacks, which occurred on Wednesday, mark the latest escalation in a series of confrontations between Washington and Tehran that have effectively stalled an interim peace agreement reached on June 17.

Return to negotiations ‘extremely difficult’

Tehran has declared that repeated U.S. attacks have invalidated the memorandum of understanding that had underpinned a fragile ceasefire. Ghalibaf asserted that Iran is now engaged in an “essential and existential war” with the United States and has no incentive to honor the terms of the previous accord.

In the view of the Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, Iran has suspended its obligations under the agreement because Washington failed to meet its own commitments.

“Our commitments remain in effect only as long as the other side fulfills its promises,” Baghaei explained.

Tehran has indicated that it has no intention of pursuing further diplomatic talks with Washington and will focus on defending its national interests.

According to Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Tehran, Resul Serdar, the latest escalation renders any return to negotiations “extremely difficult.”

“There is now a low‑intensity conflict, new sanctions have been re‑imposed on Iran, and a U.S. blockade is in place again,” Serdar noted.

He added that “if the United States adheres to the provisions of the memorandum of understanding, Iran has indicated it would be open to diplomatic engagement.”

Iran renews attacks on Gulf neighbours

On Wednesday morning, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it had struck the U.S. Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain as part of a “crushing response,” and claimed to have targeted a major U.S. logistics hub in Mina Abdullah, Kuwait.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence later reported that its forces downed at least four cruise missiles and 21 drones launched from Iran during the day.

Jordan’s armed forces also stated that they intercepted three missiles fired from Iranian territory.

Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary‑General Jasem AlBudaiwi condemned the attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan as “treacherous,” stating they “demonstrate Iran’s determination to plunge the region into further chaos and instability.”

Zeidon Alkinani, founding director of the Arab Perspectives Institute, told Al Jazeera that Iran’s continued assaults on its neighbours have tested the patience of Gulf states, which oppose the U.S.–Israeli campaign against Iran and have consistently advocated for diplomatic solutions.

“Patience within the Gulf — and the perception of Iran — could collapse very quickly,” Alkinani warned.

Trump says Iran ‘better behave’

U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that additional American strikes against Iran would intensify if Tehran does not return to negotiations, even threatening to “destroy” Iran’s power plants and bridges.

When asked on Wednesday about a specific deadline, Trump declined to provide one, stating, “I don’t like giving deadlines, but they pretty much know; they know the story… they better behave.”

Ghalibaf replied that Iran continues to balance diplomatic efforts with military readiness in pursuit of its national interests.

While Iran “has never welcomed war… we must always be prepared for battle and stand firm to protect our national security and interests,” he said.

He added that “we must also employ diplomatic and negotiation tools to achieve and consolidate our national interests.”

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