New Attack Threat from Trump to Iran: Ceasefire is Over, Preparations Continue

United States President Donald Trump once again pushed tensions in the Middle East to their peak with his striking statements made on the sidelines of the NATO summit held in Ankara. Trump officially announced that military operations against Iran had resumed, stating that the ceasefire he had previously declared was now over. He emphasized that American airstrikes, carried out in retaliation for attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, would not stop. The President stated that a very harsh blow was struck against Iranian targets the previous night, adding that there was a high probability of attacks of the same intensity being repeated that night. These statements increased concerns globally that a regional conflict could turn into a global-scale war.

Threats to directly target Iran's civilian infrastructure are considered a clear indication of how far the crisis could escalate. Trump warned that if the situation worsened, Iran's power plants and desalination facilities could be struck. Furthermore, he used very harsh language, claiming that Harg Island, the heart of the country's oil export routes, could be captured and that Iran could do nothing about it. These threats have the potential to cause deep panic in international energy markets. Targeting Harg Island could mean a disruption in the global oil supply chain, making the economic repercussions devastating.

On the other hand, the agenda at the NATO Summit was not limited to Iran; critical diplomatic traffic also took place regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump stated that as part of his efforts to bring the Russian and Ukrainian leaders together, he had spoken with Vladimir Putin, and that Putin was open to a meeting in Moscow, but declined on behalf of Zelensky. Trump, who was also accompanied by Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky, directly asked him about the idea of meeting in Moscow. Zelensky humorously and clearly rejected this proposal, saying there were many Ukrainian drones in the city. This incident revealed how deep the differences of opinion between the parties and the complex dynamics regarding ending the war truly are.

Meanwhile, a notable change was observed in the US President's approach to Ukraine's military capabilities, particularly regarding drone technology. Trump, who previously downplayed Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles and argued for the superiority of American technology, recently praised and appreciated Kyiv's drone production capacity. Emphasizing the Ukrainians' admirable ability to produce drones very cheaply and in high quantities, Trump stated that they intended to make a deal to purchase this technology. Trump stated that if this deal were realized, he believed American defense would provide much stronger protection. These statements demonstrate how the technological capabilities that have transformed modern warfare are being integrated into the daily policies of international alliances.

While statements continued to come one after another from the international arena regarding the matter, French President Emmanuel Macron explicitly blamed Iran for the attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. Stating that it was Iran who acted contrary to the signed agreement, Macron emphasized that Tehran was following a completely wrong path. Regarding the status of the ceasefire, he stated that the 60-day negotiation process within the scope of the US-Iran agreement signed in June was still in effect and that planned meetings would continue. Despite these diplomatic statements, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte avoided clarifying the alliance's role in the Iran war. Reminding that Iran remains outside NATO territory, Rutte added that the organization would still always be ready to assume a role in the coming days depending on developments.