Trump says US will 'probably' strike Iran again Wednesday, declares ceasefire 'over' at NATO summit

The diplomatic architecture between Washington and Tehran has reached a point of total fracture. President Trump, speaking from the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday afternoon, provided his most explicit confirmation to date that the ceasefire is no longer in effect. "For me? The ceasefire is over," Trump stated, adding that further dialogue with the Iranian regime is a "waste of time." He characterized the Iranian leadership as "scum" and "liars," asserting that they have no understanding of their own actions. This public stance follows internal briefings from U.S. officials indicating that the President has lost patience with Tehran and has ordered American forces in the Middle East to significantly escalate their responses. ### Escalation and Personal Threats The President's rhetoric has shifted toward a more personal and aggressive tone. Trump claimed to have seen himself on Iranian "assassination lists," describing the regime as a "cancer" that must be removed quickly. He emphasized that the U.S. will likely conduct further strikes today, potentially following up on overnight operations that he previously described as significantly more powerful than prior engagements. While Trump noted that negotiations could theoretically continue, his insistence that Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons and his dismissal of the current leadership suggest that the diplomatic track has been effectively abandoned. ### Regional Context and Israel For Israel, the formal end of the ceasefire signals a return to a more proactive American military posture in the region. Trump also referenced regional dynamics, claiming that his influence prevented Turkey from entering a conflict with Israel during the recent period of heightened tension. As reports emerge of airport closures in Iran's Hormozgan province, the situation remains highly volatile, with the U.S. signaling that its military responses will now scale in direct proportion to Iranian provocations.