Trump says US agreed to continue Iran talks but declares ceasefire over
US President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to Iran's request to resume negotiations, but declared that the ceasefire between the two countries is over. The statement, posted on his Truth Social platform, comes after a week of renewed hostilities that included an exchange of strikes.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue 'talks.' We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!" Trump wrote on July 10, according to multiple reports.
The announcement follows earlier comments by Trump during a NATO summit in Ankara, where he said he believed the ceasefire was over but did not expect a full-scale war to resume. He noted Washington is not seeking a "long-term" conflict, as reported by Yonhap News.
The latest escalation began after reports of alleged Iranian strikes on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. In response, the United States launched strikes at Iranian targets, and Iran attacked US bases in the region, according to Yonhap. The Jerusalem Post reported that Iranian state media said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson denied any request was made regarding talks and warned that any US breaches of commitments would be met with "reciprocal action."
TASS reported that the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28, and that the then Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in an airstrike. In June, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding providing for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and later engaged in Qatar- and Pakistan-mediated talks in Switzerland. However, overnight to July 8, the United States resumed massive airstrikes on Iran, accusing it of violating the agreements, particularly regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Iran then struck US military facilities in the region.
According to the semi-official Iranian news outlet Tasnim, a Qatari delegation arrived in Iran on July 10 to consolidate Doha's role as a mediator between Tehran and Washington. The visit follows clashes in the Strait of Hormuz that reignited hostilities. Tasnim reported that Iranian officials will also discuss Doha's condemnation of Iran's recent strikes on commercial vessels transiting the strait. Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, held a phone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
The situation remains fluid, with conflicting accounts from US and Iranian officials about the status of negotiations and the ceasefire.