Trump Declares Ceasefire with Iran 'Dead' Amid NATO Summit Chaos

President Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran "over," labeling them "scum" during a press conference in Ankara, Turkey, as tensions escalate following a series of attacks between the U.S. and Iran.

The U.S. military launched a second wave of strikes on Wednesday after hitting 80 targets just a day prior, according to U.S. Central Command. This aggressive posture marks a stark shift from just three weeks ago when Trump celebrated a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict he and Israel initiated.

"We hit them very hard last night. Probably hit them hard again tonight," Trump stated, indicating that the U.S. has yet to strike Iran at the "highest level." He suggested targeting electric and desalination plants, warning, "I don't want to do that but if we have to, we'll take them out." Such actions could be classified as war crimes.

Trump also hinted at reinstating a naval blockade against Iran, further escalating the situation. His remarks have already influenced oil markets, causing prices to rise as uncertainty looms over the conflict.

Despite the aggressive rhetoric, Trump did not completely dismiss the possibility of negotiations to permanently end hostilities with Iran. He mentioned that top U.S. negotiators, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are eager to continue discussions. However, he expressed skepticism about their effectiveness, stating, "as far as I'm concerned, it's just a waste of time dealing with them. They're liars."

The Iranian government has not responded immediately to Trump's comments. The latest exchange of attacks occurred overnight on Wednesday, marking another escalation since the interim deal was signed in mid-June.

These strikes followed Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting U.S. retaliation against Iranian targets. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed to have launched missiles and drones at Kuwait and Bahrain in response to U.S. actions.

Trump's NATO summit attendance has been marked by complaints about European nations not contributing adequately to their defense spending amid ongoing conflicts, particularly Russia's war against Ukraine.

He expressed frustration over Europe's lack of support for his agenda regarding Iran and the broader Middle East conflict. Earlier in the day, he remarked on testing allies' willingness to assist in the war effort, noting that Italy, Germany, and France had all declined to help.

The president's relationship with NATO allies has soured further as he continues to assert that the U.S. should control Greenland, currently under Danish sovereignty.

Despite these tensions, Trump found common ground with allies regarding Ukraine. He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and announced that the U.S. would grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot Missiles, which he described as "pretty cool."

Negotiations to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine remain elusive for Trump, who recently suggested that an end to the war is "getting closer," without providing specifics. He also indicated plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon.

On Tuesday, Trump met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, discussing potential sales of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey despite existing congressional restrictions against such transactions.

"We have a very good relationship. … Why wouldn't we do that?" Trump said during his meeting with Erdogan.