U.S. President Donald Trump returns to Joint Base Andrews in Washington on July 9, 2026. (Win McNamee/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP)
U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States had agreed to continue negotiations with Iran but reiterated that the cease-fire between the two countries is over.
"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.
Trump said in Ankara earlier this week that the April 8 cease-fire — which ended weeks of all-out war but has been marred by repeated lower-intensity clashes — was over, calling Iranian officials "scum" and "sick people."
The U.S. president also said at the time that he would speak with businessman-turned-negotiator Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who have been dealing with the Iranians, but insisted it was up to Tehran to return to the negotiating table.
The two sides have exchanged fire several times this week, with Tehran targeting commercial ships, Washington carrying out retaliatory strikes, and Iran attacking U.S. assets across the Middle East with drones and missiles.
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