President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran is “over” at the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday, saying he no longer intends to deal with Tehran after the US and Iran traded strikes around the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said: “I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them any more. They’re scum.” He added that Iran is led by “sick people” and “vicious, violent people,” but acknowledged that US negotiators wanted to keep talking.
The declaration came after the US launched strikes on more than 80 Iranian targets overnight, according to CNN. The strikes followed Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, which prompted the US to revoke a temporary sanctions waiver for Tehran to export oil.
The Memorandum of Understanding Trump referenced was signed in June 2026 after more than five weeks of fighting between the US and Iran. According to BBC reporting from June 17, the 14-paragraph memo included an end to fighting, an agreement that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, and a $300 billion redevelopment package. The deal also included provisions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end hostilities in Lebanon.
Trump’s Broader Criticism of NATO at the Summit
Trump’s declaration about Iran was one of several grievances he aired at the summit. According to The Guardian, the president expressed frustration that NATO allies “didn’t want to help us with the number one state sponsor of terror, that’s Iran,” a reference to European reluctance to allow US bombing missions from European airbases.
Trump specifically criticized the United Kingdom, saying: “The United Kingdom wouldn’t let us use the island for two weeks, so we had to fly back.” He was referring to the initial refusal to use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire for bombing missions before British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reversed course and allowed limited attacks on Iranian missile sites.
The president also renewed his demand for Greenland, saying it was “very important for the United States, but it’s not important for Denmark.” He threatened trade action against Spain over its refusal to meet NATO’s 3.5% defense spending target, telling Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent: “I don’t want to do any trade with them, alright?”
European leaders had braced for a difficult summit after Trump’s mood soured at a NATO dinner on Tuesday. NATO leaders had worked to “Trump-proof” the Ankara summit by agreeing on a short draft communique in advance, according to The Guardian.
Sources
- The Guardian — Trump’s ceasefire declaration, quoted remarks about Iran, criticism of NATO allies, UK RAF access, Greenland demand, Spain trade threat, and summit preparations
- CNN — US strikes on more than 80 Iranian targets and live updates on Trump’s statements
- Reuters — Trump’s declaration that the interim accord with Iran is “over”
- BBC — Details of the June 2026 Memorandum of Understanding including the 14-paragraph memo, nuclear agreement, and $300 billion redevelopment package
- NBC News — Trump’s statement that negotiations can continue despite ceasefire declaration
