ANKARA, Türkiye — U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran is effectively over, saying he no longer wishes to engage with the Iranian government following renewed hostilities between the two countries.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump expressed frustration over the collapse of diplomatic efforts, accusing Iran’s leadership of acting in bad faith and repeatedly reneging on agreements reached during negotiations. His comments came after fresh U.S. military strikes on Iranian targets and Iran’s retaliatory actions, effectively ending a temporary truce brokered in June.
In his remarks, Trump said:
“It’s a very interesting question. To me, I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them anymore. They’re scum. They’re sick people. They’re led by sick people. They’re vicious, violent people, and if they had a nuclear weapon, they’d use it. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over.”
The U.S. president went on to say that although American negotiators remain available, he personally sees little value in further talks with Tehran.
“I’ll speak to our negotiators. They want to negotiate. They’re good people, but they have to come back to me. As far as I’m concerned, it’s just a waste of time dealing with them. They’re liars.”
Trump also accused Iranian officials of denying agreements after they had already been reached during negotiations.
“We make a deal. Everybody agrees. Then they go outside, talk to the press, and say, ‘We never even talked about it.’ There’s something wrong with them. They’re cuckoo. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over.”
The remarks followed the breakdown of a 60-day memorandum of understanding intended to reduce tensions and pave the way for broader negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security. The ceasefire unraveled after renewed attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting U.S. retaliatory strikes and the reimposition of sanctions targeting Iranian oil exports.
Trump’s declaration has heightened concerns that the conflict could escalate further, with analysts warning of wider implications for Middle East stability, global energy markets and international diplomacy. Oil prices rose sharply following his comments as investors reacted to fears of prolonged disruption in the region.
