The United States and Iran exchanged a further round of heavy strikes on Wednesday, deepening a conflict in the Persian Gulf, as President Donald Trump branded Tehran "crazy" while claiming Iranian officials were desperate to strike a deal with him. The escalation matters because it threatens to collapse a fragile ceasefire and an interim agreement intended to end the war, drawing in neighbouring Gulf states and endangering shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

Trump declared the ceasefire "over" in the early hours of Wednesday, citing recent Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the strait. Tehran responded that night by targeting Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said Iran had "just called" and wanted a deal "so badly", but questioned whether it was trustworthy or would honour any agreement, describing the regime as "out of control". He also boasted about the US strikes on Truth Social, framing them as vengeance for the attacks on shipping and warning that worse could follow.