Ceasefire with Iran Ends, Talks Continue
President Trump declared on Friday that the ceasefire with Iran has come to an end, although the United States has chosen to continue discussions with the Islamic Republic.
In a post on Truth Social early Friday morning, Trump announced, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘dialogue.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has told them in no uncertain terms that the ceasefire is over. Thank you for your interest in this matter.”
This announcement follows a series of daily airstrikes by Iran, which targeted approximately 80 military sites on Tuesday and about 90 on Wednesday. These actions were in retaliation for an attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, marking a clear violation of the ceasefire.
While returning from a NATO summit in Turkey, Trump revealed to reporters that Iran had reached out to him, expressing a desire for a deal after the airstrikes intensified. “They called us a while ago. They really want a deal,” he mentioned. “I don’t know if they deserve the contract. I don’t know if they’re going to honor the contract. That’s the question.”
When questioned about why Iran would attack ships while seeking a deal, Trump remarked that the Iranian government appeared “kind of crazy” and “a little bit out of control.” He added, “We just hit them hard. We hit them 20 to 1. Every time they hit us, we’re gonna hit them 20.”
Interestingly, Trump opted to use an older version of Air Force One for his trip back from Turkey, which had recently been refurbished, instead of a new model provided to him. White House Communications Director Stephen Chan characterized this choice as a matter of “distraction and misdirection.”
According to Chan, the new Air Force One features advanced security measures to protect the President and his team. He further noted, “As the President recently stated, there are many enemies of the United States who have their sights set on him, and we are using every tool at our disposal to counter those threats, including through distraction and misdirection.”
In an intriguing aside, Trump claimed that he is the primary target for Iran, cautioning reporters that they too might be taking risks by being with him. “I’m always under threat. I’m number one on their list,” he stated. “But if I go, you go too, right? So someday you might want to change professions.” The timing of the ceasefire’s conclusion is particularly significant, coming just weeks after a memorandum of understanding was reached between the regime and Iran regarding a potential solution.
