Trump Declares Iran Ceasefire MoU ‘Over’
US President Donald Trump has declared that the Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ending the war with Iran is “over”, describing further dealings with Tehran as “a waste of time”. The remarks came on 8 July 2026 during a bilateral meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara.
Trump, who had been somewhat complimentary toward Iranian leadership weeks earlier, delivered strong criticism. “There’s something wrong with them. They are sick. They are bad people. They are dirty players,” he said, adding that the US had struck Iran “very powerfully” the previous night in response to attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, including Qatari and Saudi tankers. He reiterated the goal of denuclearising Iran and expressed frustration with NATO allies for insufficient support during the conflict.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte responded by noting that “5,000 planes were taking off from European airports in support” of US operations, describing Europe as “one big platform of power projection for the United States”. Trump countered that the UK had restricted use of some bases and criticised Italy’s support as “very bad”.
The US earlier confirmed powerful strikes against Iran following Iranian attacks on Gulf shipping and reported aggression against Bahrain and Kuwait. Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes as a violation of the MoU and the UN Charter, warning neighbouring countries against allowing their territory to be used for aggression. Iranian officials reported strikes on two military bases in Bushehr province, with no immediate reports of casualties.
Regional reactions have been swift. The UAE’s Anwar Gargash condemned Iran’s actions as evidence that Tehran cannot commit to de-escalation. Qatar, Egypt and Bahrain also denounced Iranian attacks on Gulf states as violations of sovereignty. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency extended its advisory, urging airlines to avoid Iranian and Iraqi airspace until 31 August.
Trump additionally ordered the cutting of all US trade with Spain, calling it a “terrible partner” in NATO after Madrid restricted use of bases and airspace for operations against Iran. Spain’s government described the threat as “business as usual” and emphasised strong bilateral ties.
Informed observers note that the reinstatement of oil sanctions is likely to have a severe impact on Iran’s economy, which was already strained by prior sanctions and conflict. The developments cast doubt on the viability of the recent MoU and ongoing negotiations.
The situation remains fluid as the NATO summit continues in Ankara and regional tensions heighten.
