Source : Perth Now news
US President Donald Trump says a key agreement with Iran is effectively “over” following escalating military tensions across the Middle East.
Speaking at a NATO summit in Turkey, Mr Trump said continuing diplomatic efforts with Tehran was “a waste of time”, signalling the strongest indication yet that the Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries has collapsed.
His comments come after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for strikes on US military targets in Bahrain and Kuwait, describing them as retaliation for earlier American strikes on Iranian sites.
Mr Trump sharply criticised Iran’s actions, accusing the country of violating a ceasefire by targeting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
“They’re dirty players,” he said.
The US President also used inflammatory language to describe Iran, calling its leadership “evil” and insisting Washington should shift its focus away from negotiations.
“We have to rid their cancer,” Mr Trump said. “You’ve got to cut out cancer early. And that’s the way I feel.”
“I don’t want to deal with them any more; they’re scum.”
Mr Trump’s remarks suggest the administration is moving further away from diplomacy as tensions in the region continue to rise.
Oil prices spiked by 6 per cent following Mr Trump’s remarks.
CNBC reports that West Texas Intermediate futures for August delivery rose 6.25 per cent to $US74.83 ($107.85) per barrel. Futures for International benchmark Brent crude for September delivery jumped 6 per cent to $US78.64 per barrel.
Signalling that things have taken a turn for the worse, the US Treasury Department on Tuesday withdrew a waiver that had allowed Iran to sell its oil.
