Iran hits back at Trump after US insists truce over - Taipei Times

• AFP, TEHRAN

Iran yesterday insisted it had "kept its word" on a ceasefire with Washington, after US President Donald Trump insisted the truce was over, but that he had agreed to further negotiations with the Islamic Republic.

The comments mark a new low in relations between the foes, after an exchange of fire this week rocked a shaky agreement aimed at turning the months-long ceasefire into durable peace and threatened a return to full-scale regional war.

Trump ramped up the rhetoric between the warring sides yesterday, threatening in a Truth Social post to "completely decimate" Iran if it attempted or succeeded in assassinating him.

Photo: AP

It came a day after Trump agreed to further negotiations with Iran, even as he repeated his assertion that the ceasefire was over, just weeks after Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) pushing for peace.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue 'talks.' We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!" Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi hit back, insisting that Tehran "has so far kept its word, unlike the so-called US Treasury Secretary who is violating Para 9 of the MOU."

That refers to part of the MOU that Iran would "maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program" and the US "will not impose any new sanctions, and will not deploy additional forces in the region," pending a final deal.

"That violation follows other violations and missteps by the United States. Reality check: There can only be mutual compliance," Araghchi added.

US and Iranian delegations have held one round of direct talks in Switzerland since the signature of their memorandum of understanding, as well as indirect negotiations in Qatar, but there has been no sign of diplomatic progress since.

The hostile words came as Axios and Politico reported that Washington has given Tehran until yesterday to stop firing on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz and acknowledge that the waterway is open.

Araghchi was to travel to Oman yesterday for talks on the strait, the official IRNA news agency said.