United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday declared the ceasefire between the United States and Iran “over” following a fresh exchange of military strikes between the two countries.
Speaking to reporters alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the NATO summit, Trump said he no longer believed the agreement reached between Washington and Tehran remained in force after the latest attacks.
“I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them anymore. They’re scum,” Trump said. He described Iran’s leaders as “vicious, violent people” and added, “As far as I’m concerned, it’s just a waste of time dealing with them. They’re liars.”
Despite his remarks, Trump said he had not ruled out further diplomatic engagement, noting that US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were still interested in pursuing talks with Tehran.
The renewed hostilities followed Iranian strikes on at least three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday and Tuesday.
In response, the United States launched strikes on more than 80 Iranian targets, including air defence systems, radar installations and vessels belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Iran later retaliated by targeting US military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait.
The escalation rattled global energy markets, with US crude oil rising more than 6.5 per cent to about $75 per barrel, marking its biggest one-day gain since early June. Brent crude also climbed about 6.2 per cent to nearly $79 per barrel.
The latest developments come weeks after Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at reducing tensions.
The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has also begun revoking oil sanctions waivers previously granted to Iran under the agreement.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels, describing them as unacceptable and saying Tehran had violated the memorandum by targeting ships near the Strait of Hormuz.
The renewed fighting comes as Iran continues a multi-day funeral for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the opening strikes of the conflict on February 28. Trump had previously said the United States gave Iran “a week off” during the mourning period.
Responding to Trump’s remarks, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote on social media that “the era of bullying and extortion is over” and insisted that Iran would not yield to pressure.
