In a major development with ramifications far beyond the Middle East, US President Donald Trump has announced that the ceasefire with Iran is over.
Speaking alongside NATO chief Mark Rutte in Turkey on Wednesday, Trump said the US military had attacked Iran "very powerfully" overnight. He also asserted that he no longer wanted to deal with Iran and described its leadership as "sick and evil people."
"We attacked very powerfully last night, the very dangerous people from Iran. They are sick. Something is wrong with them," Trump said.
"For me, the memorandum of understanding is over. I don't want to deal with them anymore. They're scum. And if they get a nuclear weapon... They're liars. In my eyes, it's a waste of time to continue talking to them. They're crazy. For me, it's over," he stated.
.@POTUS on the status of the ceasefire with Iran: "To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them anymore. They're scum... They're led by sick people... I'll speak to our negotiators. They want to negotiate—they're good people... but they have to come back to me. As far… pic.twitter.com/6eYfwMxSdn
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 8, 2026
"These are evil, sick people, and we have to rid their cancer. They're cancers. And you know what you do? You've got to cut out cancer early," Trump added.
His remarks came hours after the US military launched fresh strikes on Iran, saying the operation was in response to Tehran's alleged attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran immediately warned Washington that it would "take whatever measures it deems necessary," raising concerns that the interim ceasefire agreement could collapse completely and push the Middle East towards a wider regional conflict.
Later, Iran claimed it had launched drone and missile strikes targeting US-linked military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation for the American strikes on the country's southern provinces, according to Iran's state-affiliated Fars News Agency.
Citing the Iranian Army Public Relations, Fars reported that Iranian army drones targeted the Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain early Wednesday morning.
"Following the hostile invasion by the American enemy into areas in the south of the country, army drones targeted the gathering centres of the hostile American forces at the Sheikh Isa Air Base located in Bahrain in an attack early this morning," the statement said, according to Fars.
Meanwhile, the United States also revoked a licence that had authorised the sale of Iranian oil under the interim agreement. The licence had allowed Iran, for the first time in years, to openly sell oil on the international market in exchange for US dollars.
