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Trump says Iran ceasefire is ‘over,’ signals F-35 sale to Turkey during NATO summit
Trump says Iran ceasefire is ‘over,’ signals F-35 sale to Turkey during NATO summit
08/07/2026ANKARA — USPresident Donald Trump delivered a series of combative statements during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Ankara, declaring that he no longer believes a ceasefire with Iran is viable, criticizing NATO allies over burden-sharing, and announcing that Turkey would receive F-35 fighter jets.
Speaking after meeting Rutte during the summit hosted by Turkey, Trump said his confidence in diplomacy with Tehran had collapsed following recent hostilities.
“I think the ceasefire is over,” Trump said. “I don’t want to make deals with these people anymore. They are sick people. Our team can continue talking if they want, but I believe it is a waste of time. I don’t like Iran anymore.”
The remarks marked one of Trump’s sharpest public rejections of renewed negotiations with Iran, coming just one day after the United States carried out military strikes against what he described as “very dangerous individuals” inside the country.
Trump claimed the United States had responded with overwhelming force after attacks targeting ships in the region. “When they attack us, we will strike back,” he said, adding that the latest US operation struck Iranian targets “20 times harder.”
Trump reiterated that Washington would not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons and again accused Tehran of bearing responsibility for the deaths of thousands of Americans over the past four decades. He also defended the killing of Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) General Qassem Soleimani, arguing that Soleimani would have posed an even greater threat had he remained alive.
Trump also renewed his longstanding criticism of NATO’s financial structure, arguing that the United States has shouldered an unfair share of the alliance’s defense costs.
“I am not happy with NATO because they did not help us regarding Iran, the number one terrorist country in the world,” he said. “We spent trillions of dollars for them, and we were not treated fairly.”
Rutte responded by defending the alliance, noting that European member states have significantly increased their defense spending in recent years. Addressing Trump’s concerns, the NATO secretary general emphasized that allies were taking greater responsibility for collective security and voiced support for Washington’s stance on Iran.
“I’m with you,” Rutte said.
Trump reserved some of his strongest criticism for Spain, calling the country a “hopeless case” and “a terrible partner” within NATO.
He said he had instructed US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt trade with Spain, although such a move wouldn’t be realistic given the nature of collective economic agreements within the European Union, accusing Madrid of acting in a hostile manner toward Washington.
“They’re wasting our time,” Trump said. “When they call back asking to trade with us, we’ll see how hostile they really are.”
Turkey and the F-35 Program
In remarks likely to attract regional attention, Trump stated that Turkey would receive F-35 fighter aircraft, signaling a possible reversal of years of tensions following Ankara’s removal from the program.
He praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and also spoke positively of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I like Erdoğan very much, and I like Netanyahu very much,” Trump said. “Turkey will get the F-35s. Turkey has a very modern and powerful military.” Bringing Turkey back into the F-35 program, however, is tied to the country’s controversial acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system and is ultimately up to Congress.
Trump added that he had told Netanyahu that, without his leadership, Turkey might have entered the conflict with Iran, saying he believed Ankara had remained neutral.
China, TikTok, and Greenland
Turning briefly to relations with China, Trump praised Chinese President Xi Jinping and highlighted his popularity on the TikTok social media platform.
“They tell me TikTok is very important,” Trump said. “If you look at the numbers, I’m number one. I have four billion views.”
Trump also revived his longstanding interest in Greenland, arguing that the Arctic territory is strategically essential for global security.
“Greenland is a major issue for us,” he said. “It is of little benefit to Denmark. We want it for the security of the entire world.”
Referring to World War II, Trump added that Denmark had been defeated by Nazi Germany in a single day and said the United States had liberated Greenland before returning it to Danish control.
The press conference underscored Trump’s continued willingness to challenge allies publicly while combining sharp rhetoric on security, trade, and geopolitics with renewed pressure on Iran, NATO partners, and America’s strategic rivals.