Iran ceasefire is ‘over’, says Trump as NATO summit turns tense

New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the interim ceasefire arrangement with Iran was "over", declaring that he no longer wanted to negotiate with Tehran after fresh attacks on commercial tankers triggered new US military strikes. Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran had effectively collapsed. "To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them," Trump said when asked whether the interim accord, which was expected to pave the way for a long-term peace deal by mid-August, was still alive. Trump used unusually harsh language for Iran's leadership, calling them "sick people" and accusing Tehran of lying about the terms of the understanding. "As far as I'm concerned, it's just a waste of time dealing with them," he said. Fresh US strikes deepen crisis The remarks came after the US launched fresh military strikes on Iran in response to attacks on three tankers near the Strait of Hormuz. Washington also revoked a licence that had allowed Iran to sell oil under the ceasefire-linked arrangement. The move has raised fears that the fragile truce, which had briefly eased tensions in West Asia and helped stabilise energy markets, may now be beyond repair. Oil prices jumped sharply after Trump's comments, with Brent crude moving above $78 a barrel. Iran's foreign ministry said the latest US action had made parts of the ceasefire "ineffective" and accused Washington of interfering with arrangements for maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran also warned countries in the region not to allow their territory to be used for fresh American attacks. NATO summit overshadowed Trump's Iran remarks overshadowed a NATO summit where European leaders had hoped to project unity, especially over Ukraine. Instead, the US President opened multiple fronts, including a sharp attack on Spain over defence spending. Trump said he wanted to cut off all trade with Spain, calling Madrid a "terrible partner" in NATO. The remark was aimed at Spain's refusal to sharply increase military spending in line with Trump's demands. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's office played down the remarks, saying bilateral ties benefited both countries. Trump also said he was unhappy with NATO over Greenland, reviving another point of friction within the alliance. On the sidelines of the summit, Trump also held discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other regional leaders as Washington worked to coordinate its next steps with key regional players. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency, meanwhile, advised airlines not to operate within Iranian and Iraqi airspace till August 31, citing the risk of further military action. The collapse of the Iran understanding now leaves the region facing renewed uncertainty over shipping, oil supplies and the possibility of a wider US-Iran confrontation.