Trump says Iran ceasefire is over as Maersk resumes Suez Canal shipping

Shipping giant Maersk announced Thursday that it would resume Middle East-US East Coast (MECL) services via the Suez Canal, years after threats by Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen forced the company to abandon the transit route. U.S.-flagged container ships Maersk Denver and Maersk Chicago will be the first of the shipping giant's vessels to transit the canal as part of the restored service. The company has been under pressure to restore the route to boost maritime traffic, as the U.S.-Iran war has severely restricted ship journeys in and out of the Persian Gulf.

President Trump declares ceasefire "over" as talks continue

President Donald Trump said Friday on Truth Social that the U.S. Had agreed to a request from Iran to continue talks, but he reiterated that the ceasefire is "over." "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!" Mr. Trump wrote. The ceasefire was part of a memorandum of understanding signed in mid-June intended to enable 60 days of negotiations to resolve issues including the future of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program.

Three sources familiar with the attempts to revive the ceasefire told CBS News on Thursday that "active conversations" between the U.S. And Iran continue, though the diplomacy is indirect and mediated by Qatar. Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that a Qatari delegation arrived in Iran on Friday to stabilize its mediation position. Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Majed Al Ansari, confirmed the country remains committed to mediation "despite being directly affected" by the conflict.

Military operations and regional impact

The recent escalation was sparked by Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command stated that U.S. Forces conducted two days of intense strikes targeting at least 170 sites, including air defenses, drone and missile storage, and naval logistics infrastructure. Iran's Health Ministry reported that 14 people were killed and 78 were wounded during the U.S. Strikes. Iranian state media claimed U.S. Projectiles also struck fishing piers in Bandar Abbas and Asaluyeh, causing significant financial losses.

In response to the U.S. Strikes, Iran launched missiles and drones targeting U.S. Allies, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan. U.S. Officials reported no significant damage to U.S. Facilities, and most incoming weapons were intercepted. An official told NBC News that falling debris caused minor damage to a non-U.S. Building near the U.S. Navy headquarters in Bahrain.

Maritime instability in the Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz remains a primary theater of the conflict. While the U.S. Navy continues to encourage commercial ships to use the southern route—noting in an advisory that it "remains available for all traffic"—Lloyd's List reported that traffic had "fallen sharply" since the exchange of strikes began Tuesday. Open-source maritime tracking data analyzed Friday showed no commercial vessels publicly broadcasting locations that indicated an intention to transit the southern shipping lane.

Despite the ongoing hostilities, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held telephone calls with senior officials from Oman, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan to discuss regional developments. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces stated they carried out more than 20 attacks in Lebanon this week, responding to what they termed "Hezbollah ceasefire violations." The U.S.-brokered memorandum of understanding signed in June calls for an end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, though Israel and Hezbollah have continued to trade fire.