Iran Shuts Hormuz Again After Trump Ceasefire — Fires on Indian Ships

Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz again Thursday and fired on two Indian-flagged ships, violating its ceasefire with President Trump just days after the deal appeared to bring Middle East tensions under control.

Trump told ABC's Jonathan Karl the Iranian actions constituted a "serious violation" of the ceasefire but insisted a final agreement would still happen. "It will happen. One way or another, The nice way or the hard way. It's going to happen. You can quote me," Trump said.

The Hormuz closure came as U.S. forces continue enforcing their own blockade of Iranian ports, which Tehran cited as justification for shutting the critical oil shipping lane. The Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf said Thursday the two sides remain "far apart" on a final agreement, though that could be a negotiating tactic.

Stock markets had hit record highs earlier this week as investors concluded the war was ending after Trump secured both the Iran ceasefire and pressured Israel to halt its attacks on Lebanon. The renewed Hormuz blockade threatens that optimism and American energy security.

Trump's media critics immediately pounced on the setback. When Karl reported on the ceasefire violations, Twitter users attacked him for "calling the president for comment" and posting "BS from a pathological liar." The Drudge Report ran a banner headline reading "LEAK: TRUMP GRIPPED WITH FEAR" tied to a Wall Street Journal piece about Trump's war frustrations.

After the Karl exchange Thursday, Trump fired back on Twitter: "NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!" The message contained an apparent typo with an extra "1" at the end.

The Iranian moves directly challenge American interests in the Persian Gulf, where roughly 20% of global oil passes through the narrow Hormuz strait. Previous Iranian closures have sent energy prices soaring and cost American consumers billions at the pump.

Trump had appeared to achieve what many thought impossible — getting Iran to agree to remove enriched uranium and end support for terror proxies while pressuring Israel to pause its Lebanon operations. The ceasefire had given American negotiators breathing room to pursue a broader deal.

Vice President Vance had warned Iran would "find out" Trump is "not one to mess around" if the ceasefire collapsed, as Insider Wire previously reported on U.S. naval enforcement actions in the region.

The Iranian parliament speaker's comments suggest Tehran may be testing Trump's resolve before committing to a permanent agreement. Iran's new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei took power after his father's death 40 days ago, potentially complicating negotiations as the new regime consolidates control.

Trump now faces a critical decision on whether to restart military operations or give diplomacy more time. The president's "nice way or hard way" comment suggests he's prepared for either path, but renewed fighting would threaten his promise to end Middle East wars.