President Trump declared the temporary ceasefire with Iran officially over Wednesday morning at the NATO summit in Ankara, marking a sharp reversal from the deal he had touted as an 'unconditional surrender' just three weeks prior.
The declaration follows renewed Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint critical to global energy markets. The U.S. responded with strikes on Iranian military targets Tuesday. 'As far as I'm concerned, it's just a waste of time dealing with them,' Trump told reporters, though he did authorize his negotiating team to continue talks at their discretion.
Rhetoric Escalates as Deterrence Fails
Trump's language has hardened considerably since the memorandum of understanding was signed on June 17. On June 18, he described the deal as an 'unconditional surrender' and praised Iranian leadership as the 'smartest group' his administration had dealt with. By June 21, he threatened to destroy Iran if it closed the strait again. On June 27, he warned the U.S. would 'complete the job' so that 'the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist.'
Speaking Wednesday, Trump called Iranian leadership 'sick,' 'vicious,' and 'violent,' adding: 'They're cuckoo. As far as I'm concerned, it's over.'
The unraveling of the deal raises fresh questions about the long-term stability of any agreement with Tehran and the administration's ability to guarantee free passage through the Strait of Hormuz without a sustained military commitment. For American workers and consumers, prolonged instability in the region threatens energy prices that ripple through the domestic economy.