US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire between the United States and Iran was effectively “over” following a fresh exchange of military strikes.

Speaking at a NATO summit, Trump ruled out further engagement with Tehran, calling its leaders “sick people” and saying, “As far as I’m concerned, it’s over.”

While acknowledging that negotiators could continue discussions, he said such efforts were unlikely to yield results.

The latest escalation began after the United States launched strikes on more than 80 Iranian-linked targets in response to attacks on three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

Although Iran has not officially claimed responsibility for the tanker attacks, it later announced retaliatory strikes on US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte defended the US military action, describing it as necessary and accusing Iran of violating the ceasefire.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf rejected the accusation, arguing that it was the United States that had breached the truce.

The renewed hostilities come despite a 14-page memorandum of understanding signed by Tehran and Washington last month, aimed at strengthening the ceasefire and ending the conflict across all fronts.