U.S. President Donald Trump today said an interim agreement to end the conflict with Iran was “over” after Tehran carried out new attacks on U.S. bases in the Gulf.
Iran said it had targeted U.S. military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait after U.S. forces hit Iranian targets in response to attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.
The attacks further unravelled a shaky ceasefire agreement and hit hopes of turning the memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 into a permanent peace deal to end the war, which began with U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28.
Asked before a NATO summit in Turkey whether the memorandum of understanding was over, Trump said: “It’s a very interesting question. To me, I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them.”
“They’re scum. They’re sick people. They’re led by sick people,” he told reporters in Ankara. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s just a waste of time dealing with them”, Reuters reported.
Although Trump has at times stepped back from threats he has made against Iran, oil prices surged and stocks fell after his latest comments.
The renewed hostilities have also increased safety and security concerns around the Strait of Hormuz, with shipping data showing at least four oil and gas tankers had turned back rather than try to transit the waterway.
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