President Donald Trump declared Wednesday that negotiations with Iran are effectively finished, sharply defending the overnight U.S. strikes against the regime while blasting Tehran for violating a ceasefire by attacking commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump stated bluntly:
“To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them anymore. They're scum. They're led by sick people.”
While acknowledging that U.S. negotiators were still engaged, Trump added that, as far as he was concerned, continuing talks was “just a waste of time dealing with them.”
Trump pointed directly to Iran’s attacks on commercial shipping as proof the regime cannot be trusted.
“We attacked, very powerfully last night, the very dangerous people from Iran,” he said. “We say, ‘Go and do your funeral stuff,’ and instead of that, they start shooting rockets at ships yesterday. So we hit them very hard last night.”
The comments came hours after U.S. Central Command confirmed strikes on more than 80 Iranian targets, including air defense systems, missile sites, command-and-control centers, and dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps boats. The operation was launched in retaliation for Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran responded by firing missiles at U.S. military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait, prompting Bahrain to activate missile warning sirens. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility, accusing the United States of violating the ceasefire and the Islamabad understanding. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared on social media that “the era of bullying and extortion is over,” while Kuwait condemned the Iranian attack on its territory and warned it undermines regional de-escalation.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stood firmly with the U.S. response. Sitting beside Trump, Rutte said the overnight operation was “absolutely necessary” after Iran violated the ceasefire, adding:
“I think it was totally crucial that the U.S. forcefully react. It was a very strong response, and I'm with you on this.”
The strong statements and military action come as President Trump continues high-level diplomatic engagements in Ankara with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other NATO leaders. The developments highlight the administration’s firm stance against Iranian aggression even while managing broader alliance priorities in the region.
