President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the ceasefire with Iran was "over" following a new exchange of military strikes between the United States and Iran, signaling a further deterioration in relations despite ongoing diplomatic contacts.
Speaking at a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump described Iranian leaders in harsh terms and said he no longer believed negotiations were worthwhile.
His remarks came after both countries launched retaliatory attacks, raising concerns over the future of the ceasefire framework reached last month.
Iran said it struck 85 U.S. military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait in response to U.S. attacks on Hormozgan province and the port city of Mahshahr.
The United States said it carried out strikes against more than 80 targets after Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran did not claim responsibility for the attacks on the vessels, although Iranian state media reported that at least one ship ignored warnings from Iranian forces.
The latest military exchange followed a temporary pause in U.S. attacks as Iran held funeral processions for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint U.S. and Israeli strikes at the start of the war on February 28.
Oil prices climbed sharply after Trump's comments, with Brent crude rising 5.3% to $78.09 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate gaining 5.4% to $74.23.
Asked about the status of negotiations, Trump said, "For me, I think it's over."
He also said discussions with Iran were "a waste of time dealing with them," while adding that talks led by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner could continue if Tehran chose to return to negotiations.
Iranian Army Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari warned that any U.S. ground invasion would "enter a hell from which it will no longer have a way out."
At the NATO summit, Secretary General Mark Rutte said the U.S. strikes were "absolutely necessary," adding that Washington had responded forcefully after what he described as Iranian violations of the ceasefire.
Neither Washington nor Tehran immediately indicated that negotiations had been formally abandoned despite the renewed fighting.