Ankara, July 8, (dpa/GNA) – US President Donald Trump, said he considers a ceasefire with Iran “over” and threatened to reimpose a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, rocking a high-stakes NATO summit in Ankara.
“To me, I think it (the ceasefire) is over,” Trump said on Wednesday, after the US struck more than 80 sites in Iran overnight, in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. “They’re vicious, violent people. And if they had a nuclear weapon, they’d use it,” Trump said, describing Iran as “a bunch of scum.”
He added that he would allow his negotiators to continue talks with Iran, but said he believed Tehran was “wasting their time.” Trump later said the US military would “probably” strike Iran hard again later tonight, adding that he was giving Tehran “a little warning.”
Trump also threatened to reimpose a naval blockade, targeting vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports. Iran responded by warning it would completely block the Strait of Hormuz, if the Trump kept up the military campaign.
Iran’s English-language state broadcaster Press TV, citing what it described as a well-informed security source, said Tehran was prepared to fight to maintain control over the strategic waterway, and would make no distinction between the US and its regional allies.
The overnight escalation also included Iranian attacks on US-linked military facilities in the Gulf states of Kuwait and Bahrain.
The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding last month, reaffirming a ceasefire agreed in April, and facilitating further talks to reach a permanent end to the war.
They also agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for the global oil and gas trade, but shipping has continued to be heavily restricted.
The strikes coincided with a two-day meeting on NATO leaders in the Turkish capital. Trump had informed NATO leaders during their summit dinner on Tuesday evening, that he had ordered new strikes on Iran, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said.
The war in Iran has caused a major rift between the US and European allies in recent months over a lack of support from some allies for the campaign against Iran, which was launched on February 28 without prior warning.
In Ankara, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte insisted, that consultations had been characterized by a degree of unity not seen “in recent history.” “We all felt that this alliance is more together than ever. I think particularly because we allow ourselves to sometimes disagree and then come together,” Rutte said.
Earlier on Wednesday, the NATO chief said the US military response “was absolutely necessary” before several other leaders backed the strikes too.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, while saying he thought the renewed US strikes on Iran were justified, called for a permanent deal to end the conflict. “We must reach an agreement with Iran that permanently ends its nuclear programme and permanently reopens the Strait of Hormuz,” Merz said. “Allies reiterate that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon and call on Iran to fully respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” read a joint statement adopted by NATO leaders, which has been prepared ahead of the renewed fighting.
GNA