President Donald Trump said the interim accord to end the war with Iran is over and warned that the U.S. could resume strikes.
The statement signals a potential shift toward renewed military aggression in the Middle East, threatening to dismantle the fragile peace established by the tentative cease-fire.
Speaking in Ankara, Turkey, during the NATO summit [2], Trump said he was alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. He described the previous agreement as a failure and a waste of time [1].
"For me, I think it’s over," Trump said [1]. "As far as I’m concerned it’s just a waste of time" [1].
The president said the U.S. must re-impose pressure on the Iranian government to achieve its objectives. During a question-and-answer session, Trump referenced a specific missile engagement, though he mistakenly referred to the "Islamic Republic of Japan" when discussing the conflict [3]. He said that 111 missiles were shot [3].
The announcement comes as NATO members gather in Turkey to discuss regional security. The shift in rhetoric suggests a departure from the diplomatic efforts that underpinned the interim accord [1].
Trump said he did not provide a specific timeline for potential new strikes but indicated that the window for the current cease-fire has closed [1].
“"For me, I think it’s over."”
The abandonment of the interim accord removes a primary diplomatic buffer between the U.S. and Iran. By labeling the agreement a waste of time, the administration is pivoting back to a policy of maximum pressure, which increases the risk of direct military confrontation in a volatile region during a high-level NATO summit.
