Trump slams NATO: The situation in Hormuz has calmed down, and they are "useless" at this critical moment.
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A summary of the latest situation in the Middle East: Trump approves plan to strike Iran; Iran believes the US will cause peace talks to fail.
BlockBeats reports the following is a summary of the latest situation in the Middle East on July 8th: Conflict Situation: Trump approved the strike plan against Iran. US officials stated that the strike against Iran was a "punitive action, not a reciprocal response," and that the operation "will not end anytime soon." A US official stated that the strike launched by the US against Iran on Tuesday was four to five times larger and more powerful than the strike launched 10 days earlier. The US revoked a general license authorizing the sale of Iranian oil, allowing related final transactions to continue until midnight Eastern Time on July 17th. This move is reportedly in response to Iran's recent firing on three merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that some merchant ships were sailing without coordination and had turned off or tampered with AIS signals, hindering safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. It urged regional countries and shipping companies to avoid any actions that violate the memorandum. The U.S. Central Command stated that its forces have initiated a series of powerful strikes against Iran in response to Iranian targeting and attacks on commercial shipping operated by civilian crews in international waterways. Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the U.S. Treasury Department's revocation of the temporary suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil sales. U.S.-Iran Negotiations: Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi stated that if the threats persist, negotiations for a final agreement will not begin; please honor your commitments. Iran's Supreme Leader's advisor, Rezaei, stated that it is clear the U.S. will cause the negotiations to fail. Lebanese diplomatic sources indicated that Lebanon refused to hold the sixth round of Lebanon-Israel talks in Rome, insisting that negotiations should continue in Washington. Strait of Hormuz: A liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier was attacked in the Gulf of Oman. Multiple explosions occurred in the southern Iranian port city of Sirik. Explosions were heard on Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. British Maritime Authority: The threat level in the Strait of Hormuz has been raised to "serious".
Trump did not mention terminating the interim Iran agreement again during the NATO summit.
According to market sources, Odaily Odaily reports that Trump did not mention terminating the interim Iran nuclear deal during the NATO summit, nor did he reiterate his criticisms of Spain. (Jinshi)
Trump says the temporary ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran has ended.
BlockBeats reported on July 8 that US President Trump stated that the temporary ceasefire agreement he reached with Iran had ended, increasing the possibility of a renewed military conflict between the two countries. "For me, I think it's over," he said at the annual NATO summit on Wednesday. "As far as I'm concerned, it's just a waste of time." Trump's remarks came shortly after the US launched a new wave of strikes against Iran and revoked waivers allowing the sale of Iranian oil. These actions were a response to the recent attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, bringing new volatility to energy markets and testing the already fragile peace agreement between the US and Iran. Trump stated, "I don't want to deal with them, but they're scum. You know what scum is? They're scum. They're sick people, led by sick people, they're vicious and violent people, and if they had nuclear weapons, they would use them." However, Trump indicated he would not prevent negotiators from continuing contact, although he expressed pessimism about this strategy. He said, "They have problems, they're crazy. They can talk, but I think they're wasting their time." (Jinshi)
Bitunix Analyst: Canceling Iranian Oil Waivers and Deteriorating Hormuz Situation Increase Risk Asset Volatility
According to BlockBeats, on July 8th, global markets were focused on the renewed deterioration of the situation in the Middle East. The US not only expanded its military strikes against Iran but also revoked waivers for Iranian oil sales, further escalating security risks in the Strait of Hormuz. International oil prices surged by approximately 5%, reflecting the market's re-inflation of energy supply uncertainty. The situation is no longer just a simple military conflict; rather, it involves a simultaneous increase in risks to energy transportation and the global supply chain. Iran continues to strengthen its claims to control the Strait of Hormuz, while the US military has raised the local shipping threat level to "serious," indicating that global energy transportation remains highly volatile. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia's plan to expand its Red Sea oil pipeline shows that major oil-producing countries have already planned alternative transportation routes to reduce their dependence on the Strait of Hormuz. Regarding monetary policy, New York Federal Reserve President Williams stated that lower energy prices have helped improve short-term inflation, but policy remains in an appropriate position. He did not provide clear guidance on future interest rate direction, and the Fed will continue to adjust policy based on economic data. It is worth noting that the risks in the US technology sector have also increased simultaneously. Nasdaq 100 volatility has reached a two-decade high, with AI-related trading remaining highly concentrated. Some Wall Street institutions have begun using options for hedging and are gradually shifting funds towards defensive sectors such as healthcare and consumer staples, reflecting profit-taking pressure on highly valued tech stocks. In the crypto market, Bitcoin remains range-bound. Short-term market liquidity is mainly concentrated in four key liquidation zones: $62,500 and $60,000 on the downside, and $64,300 and $67,700 on the upside. With continued macroeconomic disruptions, prices may still see liquidity liquidation around highly leveraged positions, and short-term volatility is expected to remain high. The market will continue to monitor developments in the Middle East, oil prices, and global risk sentiment.
Putin briefed Trump on the battlefield situation, and Trump said he would continue to mediate the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
According to BlockBeats, on July 5th, Russian Presidential Aide Ushakov stated that Putin briefed Trump on the true situation on the battlefield, noting that Russian armed forces are steadily advancing along the entire front, liberating settlements one after another. Ushakov stated that European countries are acting based on a flawed understanding of the overall situation and the actual conditions along the line of contact. He said that Ukraine and its European supporters are betting on prolonging and escalating the conflict, including through terrorist attacks against civilians. Ushakov stated that the liberation of Konstantinovka is a crucial stage in the liberation of the entire Donetsk People's Republic territory, and that regardless of the stubbornness of the Kyiv regime, Russian forces will conquer the remaining Ukrainian fortified areas. Trump reiterated his willingness to assist in ending the conflict as soon as possible and resolving the crisis peacefully. Trump stated that his special envoy Witkov and son-in-law Kushner are ready to travel to Moscow at the appropriate time to continue mediation efforts.
Trump: The US bears a huge burden of spending on NATO but receives no benefits in return.
According to BlockBeats, on July 2nd, Trump posted on Truth Social, stating that the US spends far more on NATO than any other country, simply to protect them while gaining nothing in return: Between 2014 and 2025, the US will spend $999 billion, the UK $90.5 billion, France $66.5 billion, Italy $48.8 billion, and Poland $44.3 billion. Other countries, including Germany, will spend far less. This is absurd!