Trump-Nato latest: Iran ceasefire is over says US president as he labels Tehran ‘scum’
Trump labels Iran ‘scum’ as he says ceasefire is over Donald Trump has declared the ceasefire in Iran “over” in an extraordinary rant at the Nato summit, just hours after the US launched fresh strikes. The US president said that Tehran were “scum” after the Iranians retaliated against US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain overnight, threatening a fragile interim peace deal agreed between both sides last month. Speaking alongside Nato chief Mark Rutte, Trump said that Iran was led by “sick people”, adding: “I don’t want to deal with them anymore.” US Central Command claimed to have struck more than 60 small boats of the IRGC as punishment for Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington also revoked a license allowing Iran to sell oil. Mr Rutte defended the strikes as “absolutely necessary” during the summit in Ankara. Iranian media earlier reported explosions in Iran's main oil hub of Kharg Island, on Qeshm Island and in the southern port cities of Sirik and Bandar Abbas.Greenland still 'not for sale', says Danish PM Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen says Greenland is “not for sale” after Donald Trump reiterated his comments that the US “needs” the territory for the “protection of the world”. “The US position is unfortunately very clear on this topic. And our position is as clear as it has been all through. “Greenland is of course not for sale. We hope that all... including all allies, will respect the Greenlandic people’s right for self-determination. “We are a sovereign state and we need everybody to respect our territorial integrity and our sovereignty,” she says. James Reynolds8 July 2026 10:45 James Reynolds8 July 2026 10:41Recap: Iran accuses US of ceasefire violations Iran’s top negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Ghalibaf, on Wednesday accused the US of multiple “major” violations of the interim agreement to end the war. These, he said, included violations in the Strait, threats of strikes, sanctions, attacks in southern Iran and Israeli operations in Lebanon. “The era of bullying and extortion is over. It leads nowhere. We don’t fold,” he wrote on social media. James Reynolds8 July 2026 10:30Oman condemns Iranian strikes on US targets Oman, which has supposedly been in talks with Iran about collecting payments from ships passing the Strait of Hormuz, now condemns the Iranian attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait, and the Saudi and Qatari tankers in the waterway. The US ally, which Trump threatened to “blow up” in May, said military escalation in the region threatens its security and maritime safety. James Reynolds8 July 2026 10:17US strikes overnight 'four-five times bigger' than last round A US official tells Axios that Wednesday’s strikes on iran were four or five times bigger in power than the last wave of strikes in Hormuz just over a week ago. An unnamed official told the outlet that Trump approved the strike plan and ordered it while in Turkey for the Nato summit this week. “This response is a direct result of the acts of international terrorism that have been perpetrated by Iran on innocent ships transiting the Straight of Hormuz. The Iranians know the consequences to their ridiculous actions, yet they still chose to carry out these attacks,” the official said [sic]. James Reynolds8 July 2026 10:14 James Reynolds8 July 2026 10:00You have to 'cut out the cancer' says Trump following US strikes During his extraordinary rant this morning, Donald Trump framed the Iranian side as an “evil, sick people” and cast doubt on the future of negotiations. “We have to rid - they're cancer,” he said. “They're cancer. And you know what you do? You got to cut out cancer early.” He went on to say that he would speak to the US negotiatiors, as they want to negotiate, but he believes it’s “just a waste of time” dealing with Iran. James Reynolds8 July 2026 09:37Recap: Trump calls Iranians 'sick people' and says it's a 'waste of time' dealing with them Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he believes the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran is “over”, calling the Iranians “sick people” he cannot negotiate with. "They're sick. There's something wrong with them. They’re cuckoo as far as I’m concerned,” he said, after the US hit Iran following reported strikes in the Strait of Hormuz. "We said 'Go and do your funeral stuff', and instead of that, they start shooting rockets and ships yesterday. So we hit them very hard last night,” he said. "I told them every time you hit, we hit. Then of course they're dirty players so they go after everyone. So we don't like them, I don't like them, and they're evil people." Donald Trump, right, speaks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (AP) James Reynolds8 July 2026 09:32 James Reynolds8 July 2026 09:30"I think it's over," says Trump of MOU with Iran Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he believes the Iran ceasefire is “over” after Washington and Tehran traded renewed strikes over reported attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. “I think it’s over,” he told a reporter, asked whether the Memorandum of Understanding to end the war was dead. “I don’t want to deal with them any more. They’re scum … they’re sick people. They’re led by sick people and they’re vicious, violent people. And if they have a nuclear weapon they’d use it.” Trump spoke after lashing out at allies ahead of a summit of Nato leaders in Ankara. James Reynolds8 July 2026 09:21
