U.S. Escalates Strikes on Iran as Trump Declares Ceasefire Over; Nuclear Talks Persist

The 60-day ceasefire between the United States and Iran has collapsed as President Donald Trump ordered 90 overnight strikes on Iranian military targets. This military escalation follows intelligence shared by Israel regarding a new Iranian plot to assassinate President Trump. U.S. Central Command confirmed the strikes, which included targets near the perimeter of the Bushehr civilian nuclear plant. In response, Iran launched retaliatory attacks against U.S. bases in Jordan and the Gulf coast, signaling a significant geographic expansion of the proxy conflict. Despite the heavy exchange of fire, a "dual-track" approach remains in place as both nations maintain technical nuclear negotiations. Officials are still scheduled to meet in Switzerland this Friday for talks that have persisted through months of intermittent conflict. President Trump has signaled a shift in posture, stating he wants to "finish the job" and expressing doubt over whether he still desires a formal deal with Tehran. On the ground, Iranian state media reported 14 deaths and dozens of injuries over the past 48 hours, while highlighting rapid infrastructure repairs on a damaged railway line in Mashhad. Energy markets have felt the immediate impact, with gas prices spiking in regions like Cincinnati. However, some maritime stability remains as Greek supertankers continue to navigate the Strait of Hormuz on the Omani side despite the heightened naval tensions.