Ankara: U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that he does not foresee the war with Iran resuming, emphasizing that his administration is not pursuing a "long-term" conflict with the Islamic Republic. Trump's remarks came during a press conference at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Ankara, Turkey. He declared that an interim peace deal between the United States and Iran is "over" following an exchange of military strikes.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the U.S. military targeted over 80 Iranian sites on Tuesday in retaliation for Iran's alleged attacks on commercial vessels in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of escalating into a full-scale war. Despite these developments, Trump expressed confidence that the war with Iran is unlikely to restart. "I don't think it's going to start again," he remarked, adding that any conflict would be swift due to the administration's lack of interest in prolonged warfare.
Trump's comments came after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, where he proclaimed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran, aimed at maintaining peace, as nullified due to the continued assaults on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre had earlier reported incidents involving three tankers hit by unidentified projectiles in the region.
The MOU, signed last month, was intended to extend a ceasefire, facilitating safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and setting the stage for negotiations towards a permanent resolution. However, Trump's recent rhetoric underscored a shift in stance, as he criticized Iranian leaders harshly and ruled out further dialogue.
Despite the challenges in concluding the Middle Eastern conflict, Trump defended the recent U.S. military operations against Iran as a "tremendous military success," reaffirming his commitment to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He also alluded to the possibility of reinstating a naval blockade on Iranian ports, a measure that was previously lifted as part of the MOU.
In a separate meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump reiterated his willingness to take further military action against Iran, hinting at the likelihood of additional strikes. "We hit them very hard last night ... (We will) probably hit them hard again tonight," he stated, underscoring ongoing tensions and the precarious balance between confrontation and diplomacy.