Donald Trump shared a cartoonish explosion meme and videos of strikes on social media just hours before declaring an end to the ceasefire with Iran, following U.S. missile attacks on Iranian targets. The late-night posting spree came on the same day the U.S. launched strikes in response to attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on X that “powerful strikes” were launched against Iran on June 7, describing Tehran’s behaviour as “unwarranted, dangerous and a clear violation of the ceasefire.” At a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump called Iran “evil, sick people” and “scum”.
Overnight, Trump reshared an image originally posted by another user, showing an explosion with the word “BOOM!” and the caption “I voted for this!” on Truth Social. He also shared footage from political commentator Eyal Yakoby, captioned “BREAKING: Massive strikes against Iran.”
A CENTCOM spokesperson stated that the strikes had hit 80 targets, including air defence systems, coastal radar sites, command and control networks, anti-ship missile capabilities, and more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small boats in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes were carried out to “impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway,” CENTCOM said.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury confirmed it would revoke the temporary suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil, cancelling a licence that had allowed Iran to produce, sell and deliver crude oil into August. The move followed the attack on the tankers and came after an earlier memorandum of understanding had involved lifting the U.S. naval blockade in exchange for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Ghalibaf, accused the U.S. on X of reinstating oil sanctions and carrying out attacks on southern Iran.
