US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he believes the ceasefire understanding between the United States and Iran is effectively "over," citing fresh military exchanges and accusing Tehran of acting in bad faith.
Speaking at the NATO summit alongside Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said he no longer wanted to engage with Iranian officials, calling further negotiations "a waste of time." His remarks came hours after US strikes on Iranian targets, launched in response to attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran's retaliatory strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait.
Iranian state media also reported explosions near military facilities in Bushehr province, though officials said no casualties had been confirmed. Tehran condemned the US action, with senior leaders warning that any further attacks would invite a stronger response. Rutte, meanwhile, defended Washington's actions, saying they were carried out after what he described as violations of the existing ceasefire arrangement.
The renewed tensions also spilled into Trump's remarks on NATO, where he criticised several allies over defence commitments and support for the US position on Iran. He singled out Spain over defence spending while urging alliance members to shoulder a greater share of security responsibilities. Analysts said the latest escalation has increased uncertainty over regional stability and raised fresh concerns about the future of US-Iran diplomacy.
When asked about the status of the Iran ceasefire, Trump said he believed it was effectively finished. "For me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them anymore... It's just a waste of time dealing with them," he said.
Describing Iran's leadership, he said, "They're scum. You know what scum is? They're scum. They're sick people. They're led by sick people. And 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."