US-Iran Conflict: Ceasefire Ends, Strikes Continue, Talks Resume

The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran collapsed this week after a series of escalatory strikes. Iran announced it had targeted US military installations in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Jordan in retaliation for American attacks on its territory. The funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was held, while his successor Mojtaba Khamenei was conspicuously absent from the ceremony, fueling speculation about the new leadership's stability and intentions.

President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire 'over in no uncertain terms' on Friday but confirmed that Washington had agreed to continue diplomatic talks after Tehran formally requested them. Meanwhile, a separate series of unclaimed airstrikes hit southern Iran, raising the possibility of Gulf state involvement, with an Iranian official warning the UAE would 'pay the price for its cooperation with the United States.' Russia sent six engineers back to Iran's Bushehr nuclear facility, signaling Moscow's continued support for Tehran's nuclear infrastructure.

Regional diplomacy intensified in parallel: Egypt and Qatar called for a restart of US-Iran negotiations, Iran pushed back at NATO's Ankara Summit over allegations about its nuclear activities, and Russia signaled openness to Turkey reselling S-400 missile systems to the UAE — a deal that would reshape Gulf defense alignments. Inside Russia, gasoline rationing began in several regions, a direct consequence of the war's effect on fuel prices. The situation remains highly volatile, with Iran's new leadership untested and multiple actors — Israel, Gulf states, NATO allies — holding competing interests in the outcome.

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