US President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that the ceasefire agreement with Iran is effectively over, stating he no longer wishes to engage in diplomatic dealings with Tehran. Speaking to journalists at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump said, "To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them anymore. They're scum... They're led by sick people." He added that while he would speak to negotiators, dealing with Iran was "just a waste of time."
Trump Labels Iranians as 'Liars and Cheats'
Trump labeled Iranians as "liars, cheats and sick people," confirming that American forces had targeted "very dangerous people" within Iran during the night. He claimed Iran had killed 54,000 protesters, stating, "They've hurt their people. They killed 54,000 people -- as of now -- who were protesting." Trump also referenced a maritime incident, saying, "We attacked, very powerfully last night, the very dangerous people from Iran... They start shooting rockets at ships yesterday. So we hit them very hard last night."
Iran's Top Negotiator Hits Back
In response, Iran's top negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf detailed numerous breaches of bilateral agreements by the United States. In a post on X, Ghalibaf enumerated "major violations" including "violating Iranian adjustments in the Strait," "persistent threats of further strikes," "reinstating oil sanctions," "attacks on southern Iran," and "continued Zionist aggression" in Lebanon. He concluded defiantly, "The era of bullying and extortion is over. It leads nowhere. We don't fold."
US Military Strikes Following Maritime Incidents
The escalation follows US military operations against Iranian targets after three vessels were struck in the Strait of Hormuz, an act Washington attributes to Iranian forces. US Central Command stated the strikes were a direct countermeasure to Iranian operations against international shipping, designed to "impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping."
