President Trump sends mixed signals as strikes with Iran resume

Supervising Producer

WASHINGTON —

The United States launched strikes on Iran overnight after President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire and memorandum of understanding between the two nations had ended.

“We’ve already won militarily. They have very little left, and they want to make a deal so badly. They called a little while ago. They want to make a deal so badly. I just don’t know if they’re worthy of making a deal. I don’t know that they’re going to honor the deal. That’s the problem,” Trump said.

Negotiations to end the war were initially expected to resume after Iran’s late supreme leader’s funeral, which ends today. However, the president’s remarks have raised questions about whether talks will continue.

“I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them anymore. They’re scum. You know what scum is? They’re scum. They’re sick people,” Trump said earlier Wednesday.

U.S. Central Command reported that the military struck approximately 90 targets across Iran on Wednesday night. Videos released by CENTCOM showed the latest strikes, which followed Trump’s statement that Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz signaled the end of the ceasefire.

It was the second exchange of fire in 24 hours after the latest flare-up in fighting began with Iranian strikes on three commercial ships on Tuesday.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker responded to the strikes on social media, saying, “If you strike, you’ll get hit.” Overnight, new Iranian strikes targeted American allies in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. Iran bombed American military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait on Wednesday.

Last month, Iran and the U.S. signed a memorandum of understanding for Tehran to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which can be used to build nuclear weapons. The agreement provided a 60-day window for broader negotiations.

Shortly after Trump put the ceasefire agreement’s future in doubt on Wednesday, oil prices rose to their highest levels in weeks, raising concerns about potential increases in gas prices.

AAA is reporting the national average for a gallon of regular gas is $3.85. Yesterday, gas prices were $3.80 for a gallon of regular. They’re lower than the May peak of $4.65 but nearly a dollar above the $2.98 when the war started.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department also announced it revoked a 60-day license that had allowed the sale of Iranian oil. The license, issued last month, was part of an interim agreement to end the fighting between the two countries.

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