Trump threatens more strikes on Iran as Tehran warns of ‘fearless’ response

Donald Trump called the ceasefire agreement with Iran “over” and blasted the country’s leadership as “crooks” and “sarcastics”, prompting a fresh exchange of fire overnight.

Speaking to reporters later at a NATO summit in Turkey, the US president said the United States “hit them hard last night” and “maybe they will hit them hard again tonight.”

They accused Tehran of being “liars” and “cheats”, saying it had violated an interim deal signed by both countries in June that called for an end to the conflict.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded by saying, “We do not return violence with violence, but with action: without fear and with great bravery.”

Tuesday night into Wednesday saw the worst exchange of fire between the US and Iran since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran on June 17.

It includes 14 points, among which the ceasefire will continue for 60 days Safe passage of ships By lifting the sanctions imposed by the US on the Sea of ​​Hormuz and Iran.

Asked about the deal at a NATO summit on Wednesday, Trump said: “I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them anymore. They’re crooks … they’re run by sick people and they’re cruel, cruel.”

“We’re in agreement… They[Iran]go out and talk to the press and say, ‘We never even talked about it.’ There’s something wrong with them. They’re cuckoos. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over.”

Speaking ahead of the summit, the president said US negotiators could continue negotiations “if they wanted to” but saw it as a “waste of time”.

However, at a later news conference, Trump told reporters that he did not think the Iran war would start again and that “whatever happens will end very quickly.”

His comments were responded to by several Iranian officials. Ali Akbar Velayati, a top adviser to Iran’s top leader, warned that new attacks from the US would meet with an “immediate response”.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Trump’s comments were not a sign of strength, but an admission of defeat for years of a policy built on brute force, sanctions and threats that failed to bring the Iranian people to their knees.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Tuesday announced “strong” strikes in response to attacks on three tankers off the coast of Hormuz. Iran’s state media said eight members of the country’s army were killed in the attack by the US in Bandar Abbas and Bushahr in southern Iran.

The United States has also announced that it has lifted a temporary embargo on Iran’s oil sales.

On Wednesday, Iran said it had targeted US military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait.

Oil prices jumped after Trump’s comments, although they are still below the highs seen during the entire offshore shutdown.

Centcom said on Wednesday that more than 20 US Navy warships continued to patrol waters in the Middle East.