President Donald Trump has declared that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran is 'over' following a series of overnight attacks between the two nations. Speaking at the NATO Summit in Turkey on Tuesday morning, Trump described dealing with Iran as 'a waste of time' and labeled the Iranian leadership 'evil, sick people'.
Ceasefire collapses after Strait of Hormuz strikes
The tentative Memorandum of Understanding, which had been in place, appeared to collapse late Monday after US forces struck multiple commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes were carried out, according to US Central Command, 'to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent individuals in an international waterway'.
In response, Iran launched retaliatory attacks on 85 US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait. The exchange of fire has effectively ended the fragile truce that had been observed between the two countries.
Trump's remarks at NATO Summit
Speaking to reporters after the exchange of fire, Trump said: 'We have to rid their cancer, their cancer. And you know what you do? You've got to cut out cancer early. And that's the way I feel.' The President's comments underscore the escalating rhetoric and the breakdown of diplomatic efforts.
The NATO Summit, originally focused on alliance defense and security, has been overshadowed by the renewed conflict. World leaders are expected to discuss the implications of the collapsed ceasefire and potential next steps.
