President Trump announced Wednesday that a preliminary peace agreement with Iran has ended, following military tensions in a vital shipping corridor.
Trump made the declaration after ordering airstrikes in response to Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The preliminary accord, signed at the Palace of Versailles in France on June 17, had created a 60-day negotiation window focused on Iran’s nuclear program and potential sanctions relief.
What Trump Said
“To me, I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them anymore. They’re scum,” Trump said when asked about the deal’s status. He added that engaging with Iran was “just a waste of time,” characterizing the country’s leadership as “liars, they’re cheats, they’re sick people.”
Trump also cited security concerns, stating that Iranian officials had threatened his life. “They want to take out the US leader, me. I’m on every list,” he said.
Iran’s Response
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf rejected Trump’s position in a statement, saying “the era of bullying and extortion is over. It leads nowhere. We don’t fold.” His remarks signaled Tehran would not yield following the military confrontation.
The Core Dispute
The two nations remain in conflict over control of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly one-fifth of global oil exports annually. Iran attacked three commercial ships in the waterway Monday and Tuesday, insisting vessels use a Tehran-approved sea route instead of a path along the Omani coast preferred by the United States and its allies.
The memorandum of understanding had outlined Iran’s nuclear program dismantlement alongside potential sanctions relief and unfreezing of Iranian assets. Tensions over strait access have escalated since the agreement was signed.
This story has been updated. CNN’s international desk contributed to this report.
