President Donald Trump used a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, to send two major messages at once. He warned Iran that the United States may launch more strikes after renewed attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, while also saying the U.S. will allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air defense systems as its war with Russia continues.
A Sharp Warning After New Iran Strikes
Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was no longer holding after attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz led to a fresh exchange between Iranian and U.S. forces. Speaking from the NATO summit, he said the United States had already responded with force and could do so again.
“We hit them very hard last night,” Trump said. “We’ll probably hit them hard again tonight.”
The president accused Iran of launching drones and a missile at ships in the key waterway. “They are behaving very badly,” Trump said, while describing the U.S. strikes as retaliation for attacks on commercial shipping.
Ceasefire Talks Face New Doubt
Trump also cast doubt on the future of the interim agreement with Iran. When asked about the ceasefire, he said, “For me, I think it’s over.” He added that U.S. representatives could still keep talking, but suggested he had little faith in the process.
“They can talk, but I think they’re wasting their time,” Trump said.
The renewed violence has raised fears that the wider conflict could restart. Oil markets reacted quickly, with Brent crude rising more than 5% after Trump’s comments. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important routes for traded oil and natural gas, making every new attack a global economic concern.
U.S. Targets Iran’s Military Capabilities
U.S. Central Command said American forces struck Iranian air-defense systems, radars and more than 60 small boats used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Those boats have played a major role in threatening shipping through the strait.
Iranian state media reported explosions in several areas, including Bandar Mahshahr and Bushehr. Bahrain and Kuwait also sounded missile alerts, and Kuwait said it intercepted two ballistic missiles and 13 drones launched by Iran.
The U.S. also revoked a license that had allowed Iran to sell oil openly in U.S. dollars as part of the interim deal. That move added more pressure to a conflict already tied closely to energy markets, shipping routes and regional security.
Ukraine Gets a Major Defense Boost
At the same NATO summit, Trump said the United States will give Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot air defense systems. The decision could be a major win for Ukraine, which has asked for more advanced air defenses to counter Russian missile attacks.
“We’ll give them the right to make Patriots. We’ll show them how to do it,” Trump said while meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “I think they can produce them pretty quickly.”
Patriot systems are expensive, hard to obtain and in high demand. Zelenskyy has pushed for more of them for years, and more recently asked for permission to produce them inside Ukraine.
NATO Tensions Remain Close to the Surface
Trump praised Zelenskyy during the meeting, saying the Ukrainian leader had “done an amazing job” and had “been very effective” in the war. He also said, “We’ve actually developed a good relationship. It’s hard to believe,” while adding that the U.S. would “work on some kind of security package” for Ukraine.
Still, Trump’s meeting with NATO allies was not without tension. He criticized some partners over Iran, defense spending and Greenland. Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected Trump’s renewed interest in U.S. control of Greenland, saying, “Greenland is of course not for sale.”
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte tried to keep the summit focused on alliance unity and higher defense spending. “Grab the win. It’s there,” Rutte told Trump, while pointing to increased spending by European allies and Canada.
A Summit Shaped by Two Wars
The NATO summit showed how closely global security issues are now connected. The war in Ukraine, the conflict with Iran, energy prices, shipping routes and NATO unity all became part of the same conversation.
Trump left Ankara with a harder line toward Iran and a new promise for Ukraine. But the broader picture remains uncertain. If fighting in the Gulf expands, it could shake energy markets and pull more countries into the crisis. If Ukraine can produce more air defense systems, it may gain a stronger shield against Russian attacks. For NATO, the challenge now is to manage both fronts while keeping the alliance together.
