The fragile diplomatic truce between Washington and Tehran has collapsed following the February assassination of Iran’s former leadership. US President Donald Trump officially terminated the temporary ceasefire overnight, threatening military strikes after Iran’s new Supreme Leader vowed retaliation against the United States.
Mojtaba Khamenei issued his first policy directive since his father’s funeral on Saturday at 17:07 local time. Publishing the statement on Telegram, he declared that vengeance against the United States and Israel is “inevitable” and labeled it “the demand of the nation.”
Trump responded to the rhetoric directly, referencing ongoing intelligence regarding assassination plots. The US president posted that he has left standing instructions for the military to bomb Iran at “unprecedented levels” if any American targets are struck.
The rapid escalation officially ends a brief period of de-escalation, according to reports confirming Trump’s declaration and Khamenei’s message. It also complicates ongoing regional security operations, which recently included a US ultimatum to Iran over separate shipping disputes.
This immediate crisis stems from the February 28 targeted airstrike that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Subsequent funeral proceedings in Mashhad heavily featured crowds holding banners demanding Trump’s death, highlighting the internal pressure on Iranian hardliners to respond.
Despite the public collapse of the ceasefire, back-channel talks continue. Qatari delegates arrived in Tehran this weekend in an attempt to mediate the dispute, operating alongside officials from Oman to prevent a direct military exchange.