The fragile understandings meant to cool a spiralling US-Iran confrontation appeared to unravel further as US President Donald Trump declared the memorandum of understanding with Tehran “over,” saying he had no appetite for renewed engagement and branding Iran’s leadership “sick people”.
Addressing a summit of NATO leaders in Ankara, Mr Trump also said he had ordered his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to sever trade ties with Spain, denouncing Madrid as a “terrible partner” within the alliance.
The remarks came after the US launched new military strikes on Iran yesterday and revoked a licence that had allowed Iran to sell oil, moves Washington framed as a response to attacks on three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
“It’s a very interesting question. To me, I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them,” Mr Trump said when asked whether the memorandum was finished.
He went on: “As far as I’m concerned, it’s over. I’ll speak to our negotiators. They want to negotiate… But they have to come back to me. As far as I’m concerned, it’s just a waste of time dealing with them.”
He add: “Everyone’s agreed, no nuclear weapon. We make a deal. They go outside, joke to the press, they say we never even talked about it. There’s something wrong with them, they’re cuckoo.”
The US has revoked a license allowing Iran to sell oil after three tankers were hit by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz.
Under the interim US-Iran agreement, the US Treasury issued a 22 June general license to allow the sale of crude oil and petrochemical and petroleum products of Iranian origin until 21 August. In revoking that license yesterday, it gave Iran until 17 July to wind down any transactions.
Oil prices jumped 5% after Mr Trump’s comments.
Earlier, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had struck US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait.
Iranian media also reported a series of blasts in the port city of Bushehr, home to the country’s only civilian nuclear power plant and situated near Kharg island, the main oil terminal through which 90% of the nation’s crude exports transit.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it carried out a coordinated missile and drone operation against key US military sites in Bandar Salman, Bahrain’s Fifth Naval District and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait.
They also said they had shot down a US MQ9 drone that was attempting to interfere with the operation.
Across Bahrain, several explosions were heard after authorities triggered air raid sirens on three separate occasions to warn of a potential attack.
The Kuwaiti army said its air defences were responding to what it described as “hostile” missile and drone attacks.
Kuwait also condemned what it said were “repeated Iranian attacks” on its territory, adding that it reserves the right to take “all necessary measures” to protect its sovereignty.
US hits more than 80 targets in latest Iran strikes, US military says
Earlier, the US carried out fresh military strikes and moved to revoke the licence allowing Iran to sell oil, citing the tanker attacks in the strait.
The US Central Command said the latest wave hit more than 80 targets, including more than 60 small boats operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as Washington sought to impose what it called a heavy cost on Iran for attacks on shipping in violation of the ceasefire.
“The unwarranted aggression by Iranian forces is a clear and dangerous violation of the ceasefire and undermines freedom of navigation,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
Iran’s top joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, denounced the US strikes as a “blatant act of aggression,” warned of a “crushing response,” and said Tehran would not allow US interference in the management of the strait.
A top Iranian negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, accused the US of breaking the ceasefire agreement.
He pointed not only to the latest US military strikes but also to renewed oil sanctions, what he described as violations of Iranian “adjustments” in the Strait of Hormuz, and Israeli attacks against Lebanon.
“The era of bullying and extortion is over,” Mr Qalibaf said in a post on X. “We don’t fold.”
