Trump says Iran peace deal is ‘over’ after attacks on US bases

The news: United States President Donald Trump said the interim ceasefire agreement with Iran had ended after the two nations exchanged a series of missile and drone strikes on Wednesday.

The context: In June, the US and Iran agreed to a 60-day ceasefire to allow negotiators to develop a permanent agreement over the future of Iran’s nuclear programme and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Qatari mediators said positive progress had been made in the two rounds of talks since. However, Iran reportedly fired at three commercial oil tankers on Tuesday prompting the US to retaliate with a wave of airstrikes on radar sites and military boats. Iran then fired a barrage of missiles and drones targeting US bases in Bahrain and Kuwait on Wednesday.

What they said: “To me, I think it’s over. I don’t want ​to ⁠deal with them. They’re scum. They’re sick people. They’re led by sick people. As far as ⁠I’m ​concerned, it’s just a waste of ​time dealing with them,” President Trump told reporters at the NATO summit in ​Turkey.