US President Donald Trump has confirmed that Washington will continue diplomatic talks with Iran following a request from Tehran, but stressed that the existing ceasefire agreement is effectively terminated. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the United States had made it clear to Iran that the ceasefire is over, even as Qatari mediators travel to Iran to de-escalate tensions and facilitate a return to negotiations.
Trump's Stance on Ceasefire
Trump wrote, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue 'talks.' We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!" This statement follows his earlier remarks on Wednesday, where he declared the peace process finished, calling Iranian leaders "scum" and saying he no longer wished to engage with them. At the 2026 NATO Summit in Turkiye, Trump downplayed the likelihood of renewed conflict, stating, "I don't think it's going to start again. I think it's going to go very quickly. They hit a couple of ships, and so we hit them much harder. When they hit, we hit 10 times harder."
Qatari Mediation Efforts
Qatari negotiators are traveling to Iran in coordination with the United States, according to a diplomat familiar with the matter cited by CNN. The visit aims to reduce tensions and create conditions for the resumption of US-Iran talks after a sharp military escalation. This move follows a lull in fighting on Friday, after both sides exchanged strikes that threatened to unravel any diplomatic progress.
Recent Military Escalation
In recent days, the US alleged that Iran was involved in attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. In response, US forces conducted several strikes on Iranian targets. Iran retaliated with strikes on US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, further escalating the confrontation. Trump had previously announced that the ceasefire agreement was effectively over for him, stating, "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... 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."
Impact and Outlook
Despite Trump's harsh rhetoric, the agreement to continue talks suggests a potential diplomatic off-ramp. The Qatari mediation is seen as a critical step to prevent further military confrontation. The US has maintained that any negotiations must come from a position of strength, while Iran has signaled willingness to engage through intermediaries. The situation remains fluid, with both sides keeping military options open even as diplomatic channels are pursued.
