Trump: We’ll continue holding talks with Iran, but ceasefire is over

US President Donald Trump says that the US has agreed to continue negotiations with Iran but that the ceasefire between the countries is over.

“The Islamic Republic of 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 ceasefire is OVER!” Trump writes on his Truth Social network.

The statement’s implications are unclear, especially given that the White House signaled just last night that it was prepared to adhere to the terms of the memorandum of understanding it signed with Iran last month if Tehran does the same. A fragile ceasefire has been in place since early April.

The White House statement appeared to be an attempt by Trump’s advisers to soften his declaration earlier in the week that the MOU was “over.”

Trump’s latest post suggests he wants to continue making that assertion, even if talks with Iran continue — seemingly as a means to try and hold Tehran’s feet to the fire.

However, he still seems determined to keep oil prices down, declaring on Wednesday that any flare-up with Iran would be quick and would not lead to a full-fledged return to the war.

His critics argue that those comments demonstrated that Iran still holds considerable leverage over the US, given that it knows Trump doesn’t want oil prices to shoot back up ahead of the November midterm Congressional elections.