US President Donald Trump on Wednesday declared that, from his perspective, the ceasefire with Iran has come to an end. Speaking to reporters at the NATO Summit, Trump launched a sharp criticism of Iran’s leadership, calling them “liars” and “sick people,” and said he no longer believes further negotiations would be worthwhile.
Trump stated that while US negotiators may continue discussions with Iran, he personally sees no value in pursuing talks. According to him, previous negotiations failed because Iran allegedly denied agreements after discussions had taken place.
“They’re liars. They’re cheats. They’re sick people. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over,” Trump said, adding that he believes Iran’s leadership cannot be trusted.
The US President also accused the Iranian government of killing around 54,000 protesters, claiming the incidents received little attention from the media. He argued that the government has used force to suppress dissent and said this is one of the reasons he does not wish to continue engaging with Tehran.
Trump’s remarks came shortly after the United States launched a fresh round of military strikes against Iran. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), more than 80 targets were hit using precision-guided munitions in response to Iran’s alleged attacks on commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM stated that the operation targeted Iranian air defence systems, command-and-control facilities, coastal radar installations, anti-ship missile capabilities, and more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) boats operating near the strategic waterway. The military said the objective was to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten international maritime trade in the region.
