US President Donald Trump says a key agreement with Iran is effectively “over” following escalating military tensions across the Middle East.
Speaking at a NATO summit in Turkey, Mr Trump said continuing diplomatic efforts with Tehran was “a waste of time”, signalling the strongest indication yet that the Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries has collapsed.
His comments come after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for strikes on US military targets in Bahrain and Kuwait, describing them as retaliation for earlier American strikes on Iranian sites.
Sign up to The Nightly’s newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.
Mr Trump sharply criticised Iran’s actions, accusing the country of violating a ceasefire by targeting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
“They’re dirty players,” he said.
The US President also used inflammatory language to describe Iran, calling its leadership “evil” and insisting Washington should shift its focus away from negotiations.
“We have to rid their cancer,” Mr Trump said. “You’ve got to cut out cancer early. And that’s the way I feel.”
“I don’t want to deal with them any more; they’re scum.”
Mr Trump’s remarks suggest the administration is moving further away from diplomacy as tensions in the region continue to rise.
