US-Iran War Highlights: Trump Says Oil Will Fall 'Very Easy, Very Fast' Even As He Casts Doubt On Deal

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US President Donald Trump said he is not sure he wants to strike a deal with Iran, adding that it may be better to "finish the job." He reiterated that the US will never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Trump claimed Iran had struck a couple of ships and said the US responded more forcefully. He added that Washington could carry out another strike on Iran later on Tuesday, but said any further military action would be over quickly.

On oil markets, Trump said there is currently an oil glut and predicted oil prices will fall, adding that oil supplies will be "very free, very easy, very fast.

Iran stated that the US's attacks on Bandar ​Abbas ⁠and Bushehr in the southern parts of Lebanon killed eight army personell, who were from the air force and navy.

(Source: Bloomberg)

Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz if it comes under attack, according to Iran's Press TV, which cited an unnamed source. The report said Tehran is considering shutting the strategic waterway in the event of military strikes.

US President Donald Trump said he is comfortable with oil prices rising following any US strikes on Iran, adding that "anytime we hit Iran, oil goes up, it's alright."

Trump also said he believes Israel will withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon. He added that he discussed the issue of Israeli troop deployments in southern Lebanon with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

US President Donald Trump said the US is not currently attacking Iran at the highest level or targeting key infrastructure such as bridges, but warned that Washington would strike higher-value targets if necessary.

Trump said the US may take control of Kharg Island and added that while he would prefer not to target desalination plants, it may become necessary.

On diplomacy, Trump said US special envoy Steve Witkoff could hold talks with Iran, but added that he does not see that happening. He also accused Iran of using the period of a funeral to carry out attacks.

Trump any such blockade on Hormuz would apply only to Iran.

US President Donald Trump said that even if Washington reaches a deal with Iran, Tehran may not adhere to it. Commenting on the possibility of military action, Trump said there was "not a thing Iran can do about it."

He added that the US is not attacking Iran at the highest level and is not targeting key infrastructure such as bridges.

US President Donald Trump said Iran violates the agreement every day and added that he does not know whether the US will reach a deal with Tehran. He said the US may act even without an agreement, while noting that negotiators can continue talks with Iran and "see what happens."

US President Donald Trump has warned of fresh attacks on Tehran as soon as tonight, adding that they hit Iran 'hard' last night too. Trump reiterated his old stance of Iran being "wiped out" while talking on the sidelines of the NATO Summit happening in Ankara, Turkey. 

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has cancelled a planned visit to Israel, Israeli Channel 12 reported on Wednesday.

Earlier, Israeli media had said Hegseth’s visit on Wednesday, his first to Israel since taking office, was intended to allay Israeli concerns over the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkiye.

(Source: Al Jazeera)

“The IDF (Israeli army) is prepared for any development in Iran. We are at the same levels of alert and readiness as we were yesterday and the day before,” a military source told Israeli outlet Maariv. “If we are required to act whether in offence or defence, we are ready.

About 6,000 seafarers remain stranded on hundreds of ships in the Gulf, the head of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) says while calling on all sides to exercise maximum restraint and de-escalate.

In a statement, Arsenio Dominguez condemned the attacks over the past two days on several ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, saying the strikes had placed innocent seafarers in grave danger.

“No seafarer should have to risk their life simply for doing their job,” Dominguez said, urging flag states, shipowners and operators to avoid transiting the waterway as long as the safety of crews cannot be assured.

(Source: Al Jazeera)

According to Iran's semi-official news agency Fars news, an Indian oil tanker has been turned back from the Omani corridor in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency says an Indian oil tanker has been turned back from the Omani corridor in the Strait of Hormuz.

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/xL8a9ZiQG3 pic.twitter.com/INZeR8n5KY

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) July 8, 2026

US President Donald Trump says the US launched a strong attack last night against "very dangerous people from Iran." He criticised Iran for responding to a call for mourning with missile attacks on ships, and says the US retaliated "very hard."

Trump said, "We attacked, very powerfully last night, the very dangerous people from Iran... There's something wrong with them. We say, 'Go and do your funeral stuff,' and instead of that, they start shooting rockets at ships yesterday. So we hit them very hard last night."

.@POTUS: "We attacked, very powerfully last night, the very dangerous people from Iran... There's something wrong with them. We say, 'Go and do your funeral stuff,' and instead of that, they start shooting rockets at ships yesterday. So we hit them very hard last night." pic.twitter.com/9cw75cBXLo

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 8, 2026

On Iran, US President Donald Trump says, "They're scum... They're led by sick people... I'll speak to our negotiators. They want to negotiate—they're good people... but they have to come back to me. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a waste of time dealing with them."

.@POTUS on the status of the ceasefire with Iran: "To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them anymore. They're scum... They're led by sick people... I'll speak to our negotiators. They want to negotiate—they're good people... but they have to come back to me. As far… pic.twitter.com/6eYfwMxSdn

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 8, 2026

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the U.S. of politicising its role as 2026 World Cup host. He said Washington’s conduct reflects its broader foreign policy of bending rules, bullying rivals, creating obstacles and cheating, calling it the “MAGA playbook.” Pezeshkian said Iran rejects such tactics and will stand firmly for its rights.

The U.S. government's conduct as World Cup host follows its familiar foreign policy: bending rules, bullying rivals, creating obstacles, and cheating. This is their MAGA playbook. Iran rejects such games. We stand firmly for our rights.

— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) July 8, 2026

Iran's top joint military command says Tehran considers any location that supports US attacks on Iran a legitimate target, according to Iranian state media, as reported by Al Jazeera.

BREAKING: Iran's top joint military command says Tehran considers any location that supports US attacks on Iran a legitimate target, according to Iranian state media.

🔴 More on https://t.co/5H0QqpfIYw pic.twitter.com/QVYIEwCygS

— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) July 8, 2026

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the interim agreement with Iran is “over” but he will allow talks to continue.

“For me, I think it's over,” Trump responded when asked about the status of ceasefire. “It's just a waste of time dealing with them.”

He made the comment on the sidelines of the two-day NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, and hours after striking Iran in what the US described as retaliation for strikes on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
 

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said from Ankara on Wednesday that he believes the United States is fully committed to the military organization, and praised Trump for taking forceful action against Iran overnight.

“I think it was absolutely necessary because when you have a ceasefire and Iran is basically violating a ceasefire, we see what happened yesterday,” Rutte said of the series of US strikes on Iran after Tehran struck three merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

“I think it is totally crucial that the US forcefully react,” Rutte said.

(Source: AP)

US President Donald Trump has long argued that the US carries more than its fair share of the defense burden for NATO. At last year's summit, the allies had agreed to invest 5% of their gross domestic product on defense — 3.5% on their defense budgets and 1.5% on roads, bridges and ports so troops and equipment can move faster in times of conflict.

Rutte had demanded ahead of this year's meeting that members put forward “clear, concrete and credible plans” to reach the organisation's defense spending targets.

New figures released by NATO on Tuesday showed that Slovenia, Belgium, Spain and the Czech Republic could be in hot water with the Trump administration as they struggle to meet the alliance's old target of investing 2% of their GDP.

Bahrain sounded its missile alert sirens a third time Wednesday morning after Iran launched retaliatory attacks over airstrikes by the United States. Bahrain urged people to seek shelter in the island kingdom off the coast of Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf.

Both Bahrain and Kuwait had been targeted by Iran on Wednesday.

The US said it hit over 80 targets in Iran earlier in the morning. Its strikes came over Iran attacking three ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the United States' Explicit Violation of Article 10 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding:

Since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on 18 June 2026, the Islamic Republic of Iran has acted in complete good faith and has made full use of all its capacities to faithfully implement its commitments under the agreement. Nevertheless, the United States Government has, in line with its longstanding practice, sought to justify its own violations of its obligations under various pretexts while simultaneously failing to honor its commitments

Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the United States' Explicit Violation of Article 10 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding:

Less than twenty days after the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, the announcement revoking the General License issued on 3 July 2026 constitutes yet another unmistakable indication of the ill intent, inconsistency, and unreliability of the U.S. governing authorities. This comes despite the fact that, over the past twenty days, the United States—either directly or through the actions of the Zionist regime against Lebanon—has repeatedly committed both minor and major violations of various provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding.

Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the United States' Explicit Violation of Article 10 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns the decision by the United States Department of the Treasury to revoke the temporary suspension of sanctions on Iran's oil exports, considering it a clear and material breach of Article 10 of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Cessation of War, signed on 18 June 2026. The Ministry holds the United States Government fully responsible for the consequences arising from this breach of commitment.

Majed al-Ansari, a spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, said the Qatari tanker Al Rekayyat was targeted in an “unacceptable attack” on international navigation and global energy security. He said Qatar holds Iran “fully legally responsible.”

Kuwait said on Wednesday its air defences are engaged to intercept incoming fire after the United States launched airstrikes targeting Iran. Kuwait's announcement via its military came after Bahrain also said it faced incoming missiles Wednesday morning.

There was no word on what, if anything, had been struck in either country. Bahrain and Kuwait previously have been targeted by Iranian attacks in other violence shaking the interim deal struck between Iran and the US to end the war.

(Source: AP)

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the US of "major MOU violations," listing actions including violating Iranian adjustments in the Strait, persistent strike threats, reinstating oil sanctions, attacks on southern Iran, and continued "Zionist aggression" on Lebanon. In a post on X, he said "The era of bullying and extortion is over. It leads nowhere. We don’t fold."

Major MOU Violations by the US:

Violating Iranian adjustments in the Strait

Persistent threats of further strikes

Reinstating oil sanctions

Attacks on southern Iran

Continued Zionist aggression on🇱🇧

The era of bullying and extortion is over. It leads nowhere. We don’t fold.

— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) July 8, 2026

One tanker was carrying liquid natural gas south through the strait near Limah, Oman, when a projectile hit the left-side engine room and sparked a fire, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre said.

Majed Al-Ansari, a spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, said the Qatari tanker Al Rekayyat was targeted in an “unacceptable attack” on international navigation and global energy security. He called it a “serious and explicit violation” of international law.

In a post on X, he said Qatar holds Iran "fully legally responsible."

Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s coffin arrived in Iraq ahead of funeral procession. Khamenei ruled Iran for decades before being killed at age 86 in a Feb. 28 airstrike in the opening moments of the US-Israel, Iran war.

VIDEO | Najaf: Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s coffin arrived in Iraq ahead of funeral procession.

Khamenei ruled Iran for decades before being killed at age 86 in a Feb. 28 airstrike in the opening moments of the US-Israel, Iran war.

(Source: Third Party)… pic.twitter.com/Tk3usXvyae

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 8, 2026

US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces completed a new round of offensive strikes against Iran hitting over 80 targets with precision munitions as an immediate response to Iran's latest attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. 

US forces struck Iranian air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile capabilities, and more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small boats in and near the strait to degrade Iran’s ability to continue attacking international commerce flowing through the international trade corridor.

Iran recently attacked three commercial vessels transiting the strait including Marshall Islands-flagged M/T Al Rekayyat, Saudi Arabia-flagged M/T Wedyan, and Liberian-flagged M/T Cyprus Prosperity. The unwarranted aggression by Iranian forces is a clear and dangerous violation of the ceasefire and undermines freedom of navigation. 

CENTCOM forces remain postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable when the agreement is not adhered to or obeyed.

Tehran, which has repeatedly declared that only its approved route through the strait is safe, is suspected of attacking other ships that have used another route close to the Omani shore.

Location details provided by the UK agency showed that all three attacks occurred off the coast of Oman or the neighbouring United Arab Emirates, making it likely that the ships were using the route near Oman.

One tanker was travelling off the coast of Oman when it was hit and caught fire, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said. Iranian state television said the liquefied natural gas tanker came under attack after ignoring warnings but did not directly claim the assault.

The other two ships sustained some damage, but no one was injured, and both continued on their way, the UK maritime agency said.

Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi said, "In the past three weeks, America has also repeatedly violated Articles 1 and 2 of the Memorandum of Understanding due to the actions of the Zionist regime in Lebanon and threatening statements against Iran. Iran, while issuing a serious warning regarding the consequences of America's breach of the agreement, will take decisive actions to safeguard its national interests and security."

The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the US move to revoke the licence, saying in a statement that it violates the interim deal and that "the US government bears responsibility for the consequences of this breach of commitment."

Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, also said in a post on X that the new attacks by the US are a violation of that agreement. "The United States' action in revoking the waiver for the exemption of sanctions on Iran's oil sales constitutes a blatant violation of Article 10, and the subsequent military operations of this country against Iran also constitute a serious violation of Articles 1 and 2 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding," Gharibabadi wrote.

اقدام آمریکا در لغو اسقاطیه تحریم فروش نفت ایران، مصداق نقض فاحش بند ۱۰ و عملیات های نظامی بعدی این کشور علیه ایران نیز مصداق نقض جدی بندهای ۱ و ۲ یادداشت تفاهم اسلام آباد می‌باشد. (۱)

— Gharibabadi (@Gharibabadi) July 7, 2026

A US official said the licence was revoked because Iran's actions in the strait were unacceptable and needed to be met with consequences. The official spoke with The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to share insight into the reasoning behind the move.

A similar spate of Iranian attacks on shipping and US retaliation occurred late last month, while the new strikes were notable for happening while President Donald Trump was in Turkey for a summit of the NATO military alliance.

Hours after the three tankers were struck by projectiles, the United States revoked a licence that had authorised the sale of Iranian oil as part of the interim deal to end the fighting between the US and Iran.

(Source: AP)

US military says it's launching strikes on Iran following Tehran's attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, reports AP.