US President Donald Trump arrives at Esenboga Airport in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday to attend the 2026 NATO summit. [EPA]
US President Donald Trump arrives at Esenboga Airport in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday to attend the 2026 NATO summit. [EPA]

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding reached with Iran on ending the war appeared to be "finished," signaling that the truce agreement had effectively collapsed.

Trump made the remarks during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, saying "I don't want to do a deal with them," according to AP and AFP.

The comments came shortly after fresh military clashes erupted between the United States and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. US Central Command struck more than 80 targets inside Iran in response to Iranian attacks on oil tankers passing through the strait, after which Iran retaliated by hitting 85 US military facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain and elsewhere.

Trump's remarks were widely interpreted as an acknowledgment that the truce agreement had effectively fallen apart, as follow-on negotiations with Iran had stalled and armed exchanges resumed.

Trump also unleashed a torrent of personal attacks against Iran, calling its leaders "scum" and "disgusting people," and warning that "if they had nuclear weapons, they would use them."

Trump left open the possibility that US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner could be allowed to continue talks with Iran, but he expressed deep distrust, saying "doing a deal with them is a waste of time" and calling them "liars."

He also lashed out over what he described as Iran's bad faith on the MOU signed last month, saying, "Everyone agreed — no nuclear weapons, a deal was made — and then they go out and joke with the press and say, 'We never said that.'" He added: "They have a problem. They're not sane."

International oil prices surged more than 5 percent immediately after Trump's remarks, AFP and other outlets reported.

Trump also renewed his frustration with NATO allies he said had failed to actively support the United States during its military operations against Iran.

"I'm unhappy with NATO because NATO didn't help us with Iran, the No. 1 state sponsor of terrorism," Trump said directly to Rutte, singling out Britain, Germany and France for refusing to provide support.

Trump was particularly scathing about Spain, a NATO member that has resisted calls to increase defense spending. "I want to cut them off — they're a terrible partner in NATO," he said, adding, "We don't want to trade with Spain anymore." He went further, saying, "Spain doesn't participate and doesn't pay," and calling for a halt to "all trade and visits" with the country.


hss@heraldcorp.com