Trump Says "They Are Human Scum... Seems Like Truce with Iran Is Over"

[Anchor]

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the cessation of hostilities signed with Iran appears to be over. As armed clashes between the two sides continue over control of the Strait of Hormuz, the Middle East is facing a new crisis just about 20 days after the MOU was signed.

Report by Gwak Sang-eun.

[Reporter]

As of this afternoon (July 8) in Korea, U.S. President Trump, who is visiting Türkiye to attend the NATO summit, said he believes the truce with Iran is over.

[Donald Trump / U.S. President: I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them anymore. They are human scum.]

While expressing frustration that negotiations are a waste of time because Iran changes its stance outside the negotiating table even after agreeing to abandon nuclear weapons, he also revealed that he has not yet reached a consensus with his negotiating team.

[Donald Trump / U.S. President: From my perspective, it's over. I will talk to my negotiating team. Witkoff and Kushner want to negotiate, and they are good people. But from my perspective, dealing with Iran is a waste of time. They are liars.]

Today's remarks came amid ongoing armed clashes in the Strait of Hormuz.

After three merchant vessels, including a Qatari LNG carrier and a Saudi Arabian oil tanker, were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on July 6 and 7, the U.S. Central Command struck more than 80 targets, including air defense systems and radar bases in coastal cities and islands in southern Iran, in the early hours of July 8 (local time).

The U.S. Department of the Treasury revoked the general license for Iranian crude oil sales, which had been granted for 60 days under the MOU, just 15 days after it was issued.

Iran retaliated by striking 85 locations, including U.S. military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain, and claimed to have shot down one U.S. MQ-9 drone.

[Iranian State Media: We strongly condemn the actions of the United States, and the U.S. government must be held responsible for all consequences resulting from its breach of promises.]

With Trump's remarks on breaking the truce coming amidst armed clashes over control of the Strait of Hormuz, the follow-up working-level negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, which were scheduled to resume after the funeral of Khamenei, have been plunged into uncertainty.

Video by Park Chun-bae

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