Donald Trump has declared the ceasefire with Iran “over”, branding Tehran’s leaders “scum” and “evil, sick people” after a night of strikes between the two countries. Speaking at the Nato summit in Turkey, the US president said: “I think it is over. I don’t want to deal with them anymore. They’re scum … As far as I’m concerned it’s over.”
The eruption in hostilities came hours after the US launched what Central Command described as “powerful strikes” against Iran on June 7, hitting 80 targets including air defence systems, coastal radar sites, command and control networks, anti-ship missile capabilities and more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small boats in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The US said the strikes were in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the strait, which Centcom called a “clear and dangerous violation of the ceasefire”.
“Trump said the Iran ceasefire is 'over' after US strikes on Iran and retaliatory Iranian attacks on US bases in Bahrain and Kuwait.”
Iran retaliated with attacks on 85 US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait, according to Iranian state media. Targets included Salman Port, the US Fifth Fleet area in Bahrain, and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait.
On the same evening the strikes were launched, Trump shared a cartoonish meme and videos of explosions on Truth Social. One post, originally from another user, showed a cartoon explosion with the word “BOOM!” and was captioned “I voted for this!” He also reshared footage of multiple explosions in a populated area posted by political commentator Eyal Yakoby, with the caption “BREAKING: Massive strikes against Iran.”
The collapse of the tentative Memorandum of Understanding appeared to accelerate after the US Treasury confirmed it would revoke the temporary suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil and cancelled a licence that would have allowed Iran to sell crude oil into August. The moves came after the tanker attacks.
Oil prices rose sharply, with Brent crude climbing as much as 3% to around $76 a barrel, reaching a two-week high. By 9.45am, prices had risen further to $78 a barrel after Trump’s comments.
Trump’s rhetoric at the Nato summit was uncompromising. “They’re cuckoo,” he said of Iran’s leadership. “There’s something wrong with them.” When asked if talks with Iran would resume, he replied: “I don’t care, they can talk. But I think they’re wasting their time. They’re a bunch of lying guys.”
The US and Iran have accused each other of violating the ceasefire since it was signed in late June. Iran accused the US of breaching the agreement by allowing Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Now, with both sides trading fire and Trump declaring the deal dead, the Strait of Hormuz – a vital waterway for global oil supplies – remains a flashpoint.
