US President Donald Trump arrives for a news conference at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. (AP Photo)US President Donald Trump on Wednesday called the Iranian leadership “scum” and “sick people” and said that recent attacks by Tehran on commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz suggested the end of the ceasefire.During an interaction with the press at the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, the US President threatened Iran again with large-scale military strikes tonight, but added that the latest round of fighting between the two nations would not result in “long-term” military action..@POTUS: “I’m number one on the kill list for Iran… but I don’t really care because I’m doing my job, and I’m doing it, I hope, better than anybody’s ever done it.” pic.twitter.com/P47VkauTnq— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 8, 2026Here’s what Trump said on Iran during the NATO Summit:Following new waves of strikes overnight, Trump warned the US will “probably hit Iran hard again tonight”. He earlier said, “We hit them very hard last night, very, very hard.” President Donald Trump speaks during a media conference flanked by, from left, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. (AP Photo)When asked about the ceasefire and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the US and Iran last month, Trump said: “To me, I think it’s over.”Also Read | Trump was talking about Iran. Then he mentioned the ‘Islamic Republic of Japan’Calling the Iranian leadership “scum”, the US President said, “I don’t want to deal with them anymore, they’re scum. You know what scum is? They’re scum. They’re sick people.”The Republican leader was asked, during the press briefing at the NATO Summit in Ankara, if the talks would resume, to which he responded, “I don’t care, they can talk. But I think they’re wasting their time. They’re a bunch of lying guys.”When asked if the US has any plans to put boots on the ground in Iran, Trump said, “Why would I go in now? I go in when they’re completely, either eliminated…or an agreement’s made.”Trump defended his handling of the Iran war and reiterated his earlier remarks that he was a target of Tehran. “They had leaders, they’re gone… Now they have another set of leaders. They may be gone. And you know what, I may be gone too, because I’m their number one target.”The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram