Trump says US open to Iran talks but declares ceasefire over

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has said that the United States remains willing to continue negotiations with Iran, but stressed that the ceasefire between the two countries is no longer in effect.

The remarks were made in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Trump said Iran had requested that negotiations continue and that Washington had agreed to the request. However, he emphasized that the US position was clear and that the ceasefire had officially come to an end.

Despite the president's announcement, US officials confirmed that no new American military operations had been carried out against Iran in recent hours.

The development comes a day after the White House indicated that the United States would continue to adhere to the memorandum of understanding reached last month, provided Iran fulfilled its commitments under the agreement.

A ceasefire had been in place between the two countries since early April, but renewed military clashes over the past two days have dealt a significant blow to the arrangement.

Meanwhile, several countries, including Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, are continuing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions.

Qatari mediators have arrived in Tehran for talks with Iranian officials aimed at reducing hostilities, addressing disputes over navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and advancing implementation of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding. US officials are also reported to be in contact with these mediation efforts.

Trump has also said in recent days that even if tensions with Iran escalate again, he expects any renewed conflict to be limited rather than developing into a full-scale war.

The US administration is seeking to avoid a prolonged conflict that could drive up global oil prices. Continued instability in the region could increase crude oil prices, with potential implications for the US economy and the upcoming midterm congressional elections.