ANKARA – US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Iran to end the conflict was “over”.
Trump was speaking in Ankara ahead of a NATO summit in the Turkish capital while the alliance chief was also present.
Speaking to the media alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Ankara, he, however, added that negotiators could engage with Iran if they wished to continue discussions.
Trump said the United States had targeted what he described as Iran’s most dangerous elements with full force the previous night.
Trump reiterated that Iran cannot be allowed to possess nuclear weapons, saying Washington’s position on Iranian nuclear facilities remains clear. He also claimed that Iran’s leadership had been eliminated and that “new people” were now in place.
The US president said Washington had spent too much time negotiating with Iran and argued that firm action was necessary. He further claimed that Iran’s army and navy had been destroyed and accused Tehran of carrying out attacks that caused the deaths of thousands of US troops.
Trump also criticised NATO, saying the alliance had not supported the United States on the Iran issue. He described NATO as America’s toughest partner but claimed the US was being treated unfairly within the alliance.
Discussing other international issues, Trump said he was dissatisfied with NATO over matters related to Iran and Greenland. He also said the United States did not want trade relations with Spain and had instructed officials to take steps to end commercial ties.
Trump claimed that Turkiye could have joined Israel’s war efforts but said he had prevented Ankara from becoming involved. He also said China had treated the United States well.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he supported President Trump’s position regarding Iran and added that the agreement related to Greenland would be implemented gradually.
It comes after the United States and Iran exchanged fresh strikes due to rising tensions over Strait of Hormuz while Tehran accused Washington of multiple violations.
In a statement posted on X, US Central Command said its “forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway.”
The statement added that the strikes were launched in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
“Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire,” the US military said.
Later, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has launched strikes on 85 US military targets in Bahrain and Kuwait.
It said the strikes were launched using drones and missiles, adding that the move is a response to the US attacks in southern Iran.
“In the initial response to this aggression, the naval and aerospace forces of the IRGC, through joint missile and drone operations, destroyed 85 major US military installations in Port Salman, (the US) Fifth Naval Base in Bahrain, and Kuwait’s Ali Salem Airbase, and shot down an enemy MQ9 drone that attempted to interfere in the operation,” Tasnim News Agency reported.
