NEWS PEG
Trump told Fox News on Monday the U.S. would continue attacking Iran after a weekend of intense strikes, saying, “we had a deal. It was a done deal, and then they broke it. They always break it. We’ve had 10 deals with these people, and so we’re just going to hit them very hard.”Iran said early Monday it had launched another wave of attacks against U.S. bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Oman.Trump has claimed repeatedly the Strait of Hormuz is open, while Iran said Saturday it would remain closed “until further notice.”
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Tangent
Trump’s threat to impose fees on ships passing through the strait contradict comments from his own administration that the charges violate international law. “No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That’s existing international law,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month.
Key Background
Trump said last week the ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. was officially over, as negotiators tried to continue talks between the two sides, after the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 to end the war. The deal set a framework for future negotiations surrounding Iran’s nuclear program and required Iran to reopen the strait without tolls for 60 days, among other measures. The U.S. eased economic pressure on Iran as part of the agreement, including issuing waivers for it to sell oil, but lifted them last week after Iran refused to cede control of the strait.
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further reading
Trump Says Strait Of Hormuz Is Open—Contradicting Iran (Forbes)
Trump Greenlights Iran Strikes After Declaring Ceasefire ‘Over’ (Forbes)
Iran’s Supreme Leader Vows Revenge For Father After Trump Threatens To Destroy All Of Iran (Forbes)
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