Trump says U.S. to continue talks with Iran despite scrapped ceasefire

President Donald Trump on Friday said that the United States and Iran have agreed to continue peace talks, even though the ceasefire established by last month’s preliminary deal has been scrapped.

Trump, in a Truth Social post, claimed that the Islamic Republic “has asked us to continue ‘talks’” and that “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 wrote.

Iran’s state media channels did not immediately confirm or deny that it had asked to continue talks.

Trump’s post confirmed a report by MS NOW, citing a U.S. official, that the warring powers will engage in “technical talks” and remain committed to finding solutions despite a return to hostilities.

Trump, earlier this week at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, said that the ceasefire with Iran was “over” after Iran’s reported attacks Tuesday on commercial ships near the Strait of Hormuz sparked a new round of fighting.

“I don’t want to deal with [Iran] anymore,” Trump said at the summit.

On his way back from the summit, Trump said that Iran had called to make a deal to cease the escalating hostilities in the Middle East.

“They called a little while ago. They want to make a deal so badly,” he said at that time. “I just don’t know if they’re worthy of making a deal. I don’t know that they’re going to honor the deal. That’s the problem.”