Trump says U.S.-Iran memorandum has ended, rules out further engagement
Ankara, July 8 (SANA)U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, brokered byPakistanto end the conflict in the Middle East, had expired.Speaking ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Trump said the agreement aimed at ending the war was no longer in effect, according to Reuters.Trump also said he had no interest in engaging with Iran, describing the Iranians as “sick.”In separate remarks, Trump criticized NATO’s stance on Greenland and Iran, renewing complaints that the United States bears a disproportionate share of the alliance’s financial burden.He also said he had instructedTreasury Secretary Scott Bessentto suspend all trade relations with Spain, calling Madrid “a bad partner” within NATO.The United States and Iran signed the Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding last month to address several outstanding issues, including maintaining a ceasefire, ensuring the security of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and advancing efforts to end the conflict that began on Feb. 28.On Tuesday,U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)said U.S. forces had carried out a series of strikes against Iran in response to attacks on three civilian-operated commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM said the operation was intended to inflict significant losses on Iranian forces.