Summary
- President Donald Trump said the ceasefire memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran “appears to be over.”
- The US government revoked a temporary general license issued to allow sales of Iranian crude oil, leaving 63 million barrels of Iranian crude oil stranded at sea.
- Military clashes between the US and Iran have resumed, and Iran has carried out retaliatory strikes on US facilities, raising tensions.
Forecast Trend Report by Period
President Donald Trump said a memorandum of understanding on ending the conflict with Iran appears to be over, signaling he may effectively abandon ceasefire negotiations.
Trump made the remarks on July 8 while meeting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Turkey, according to Yonhap News and other outlets. Referring to Iran, he said, “I don’t want to make a deal with them. They are obnoxious people.”
The comments came just after military clashes between the US and Iran resumed. On July 7, US Central Command resumed airstrikes on Iran after three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz were attacked in incidents blamed on Iran.
The US government also revoked a temporary general license issued on June 21 to allow sales of Iranian crude oil. The permit had been valid for 60 days. As a result, 63 million barrels of Iranian crude are now stranded at sea, the report said.
Iran responded immediately. It carried out retaliatory strikes on US facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait in response to the American airstrikes, according to the report.
JOON HYOUNG LEE
gilson@bloomingbit.ioCrypto Journalist based in Seoul