Donald Trump says ceasefire with Iran ‘is over’ after exchange of fire

Donald Trump has said the ceasefire between the US and Iran is ‘over’ after the warring countries attacked each other overnight.

The US President said at the NATO Summit in Turkey this morning that it was ‘a waste of time’ dealing with Iran and called them ‘evil, sick people’.

The tentative Memorandum of Understanding appeared to collapse last night after the US struck multiple commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

This led Iran to launch retaliatory attacks on  85 US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait.

The US said they had acted in response to attacks on three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian state media says US strikes hit Qeshm island, Bandar Abbas and Sirik.

Tehran then followed suit and targeted US military installations at  Salman Port, the US Fifth Fleet area in Bahrain, as well as Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait.

Asked if the ceasefire was over following the exchange of fire, Trump told reporters: ‘It’s a very interesting question. To me, I think it’s over.

‘I don’t want to deal with them anymore, 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.’

Asked if talks with Iran will resume, the President said: ‘I don’t care, they can talk. But I think they’re wasting their time. They’re a bunch of lying guys.’

Trump’s comments caused oil prices to rise again, from $76(£57) just before his remarks to $78 (£58) at 9.45am.

In late June, the US and Iran have accused each other of violating the terms of the ceasefire.

Days after US President Donald Trump signed a peace agreement with the country, US Central Command (Centcom) declared it had hit multiple targets across Iran.

It said in a statement: ‘Iran was given a chance to honour the ceasefire agreement but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit MT Kiku [a Panama-flagged tanker].’

Meanwhile, Trump said ‘the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist’ if it doesn’t stop alleged violations of the peace agreement.

Iran accused the US of a breach in the ceasefire agreement, citing ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon – the end of which was a requirement of the peace deal made by the two countries.

On June 20, Iran said the Strait of Hormuz was ‘closed’ again and accused the United States of violating ceasefire agreements.

The country said that ships must seek permission to use the waterway and raised the prospect of future charges for passing through it. It’s unclear if that’s why they fired upon ships in the Strait in recent days.

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