US and Iran Attack Again, Ceasefire in Name Only

WASHINGTON – The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is crumbling. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump threatened new strikes against Iran, saying, “We will hit them again today, and they will pay a heavy price.” Hours later, the U.S. military launched a new wave of attacks on Iranian targets. The U.S. Central Command said the strikes were in "legitimate self-defense" and a response to "unjustified and continued Iranian aggression." The escalation began on Monday when Iran shot down a U.S. Apache helicopter with a drone. The U.S. retaliated on Tuesday. The two sides agreed to a ceasefire on April 8, but the truce has been marked by repeated clashes. “The ceasefire looks more like a reduction in the intensity of the conflict,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The fighting has also blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil shipments. The U.S. military said it has stopped eight ships trying to break its blockade, redirected 134 others, and allowed 42 humanitarian vessels to pass. Trump claimed a "secret mission" to escort ships through the strait has allowed over 100 million barrels of oil to reach the market. Before the conflict, between 80 and 130 ships passed through the strait every day. Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Aragchi warned that his country "will not leave any attack or threat unanswered." He said Iran prefers diplomacy but also "speaks other languages." Experts warn the situation is dangerous. Hamidreza Azizi, a visiting professor at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, said both sides are using force to gain a better position in talks. “The paradox is that, although neither side wants a full-scale war, the need to reshape the diplomatic landscape through military force could lead to exactly that result,” Azizi said. Iran is also demanding that any deal include a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Iranian foreign ministry said it is reviewing negotiations because of repeated U.S. violations of the truce. Despite the tensions, some believe diplomacy is not dead. Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a former Iranian negotiator, said, “Diplomacy remains the only viable way forward.” He warned that future deals will fail unless the U.S. understands that Iran has changed its security strategy after the wars of 2025 and 2026.