“To me, I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them anymore,” Trump said.
“They’re scum, they’re sick people, they’re led by sick people, and they’re vicious, violent people.”
The comments sent a clear message that relations between Washington and Tehran remain on a knife’s edge despite previous efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
Markets reacted immediately.
Oil prices surged as traders weighed the possibility of further military escalation in one of the world’s most strategically important energy corridors. Brent crude, the international benchmark, climbed to $78.39 per barrel overnight, reaching its highest level since June 19 as investors rushed to price in growing geopolitical risk.
Wall Street also showed signs of concern. Futures tied to the Nasdaq, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and S&P 500 all slipped during premarket trading as investors assessed the possibility of a prolonged conflict affecting global commerce and energy supplies.
The latest tensions followed a major American military operation targeting Iranian assets. According to U.S. Central Command, more than 80 targets inside Iran were struck in response to attacks on commercial tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
Military officials said the operation focused on infrastructure directly connected to Iranian military activities and maritime threats.
CENTCOM stated:
“Forces completed a new round of offensive strikes against Iran, July 7, hitting over 80 targets with precision munitions as an immediate response to Iran’s latest attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
“US forces struck Iranian air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile capabilities, and more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small boats in and near the strait.”
The Pentagon identified the vessels involved in the attacks as the Marshall Islands-flagged M/T Al Rekayyat, the Saudi Arabia-flagged M/T Wedyan, and the Liberian-flagged M/T Cyprus Prosperity.
Iran reportedly responded by launching strikes aimed at targets in Bahrain and Kuwait, raising fears that the conflict could spread beyond its current boundaries and pull additional regional actors into the fight.
Trump indicated that the American response may not be over.
“We hit them very hard last night … probably hit them hard again tonight. I’ll give a little warning, we’re going to hit them hard tonight,” the president said.
He also suggested that additional economic pressure against Tehran remains under consideration, including restoring measures designed to further isolate the Iranian regime.
Despite the increasingly hostile rhetoric, Trump acknowledged that diplomatic channels have not been completely shut down.
“I’ll speak to our negotiators. They want to negotiate, they’re good people… but they have to come back to me,” he said.
Still, the president expressed little confidence that Iran’s leadership can be trusted to honor agreements.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s just a waste of time dealing with them,” Trump said.
Later, he added, “As far as I’m concerned, it’s just a waste of time dealing with them. They’re liars.”
“They’re cuckoo.”
Trump also revealed that he believed Iran would remain relatively quiet while observing a national mourning period following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed during joint U.S.-Israeli military operations earlier this year.
Instead, Trump claimed Iran escalated the situation by targeting shipping traffic.
“We said, ‘Go and do your funeral stuff,’ and instead of that, they start shooting rockets at ships,” Trump remarked.
“Can you imagine they start shooting bombs, actually missiles at ships yesterday, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, couple of others,” he added.
The remarks underscore why the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most critical flashpoints on the planet.
Roughly 20 percent of global oil and natural gas shipments travel through the narrow waterway. Any disruption to traffic there can rapidly impact energy supplies, shipping costs, and fuel prices worldwide.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte publicly supported the American response while seated beside Trump during the summit.
“I think what you did last night was absolutely necessary,” Rutte told the president.
“It was a very strong response.”
Rutte also pushed back on claims that NATO allies have been unwilling to assist U.S. operations, emphasizing that support from European partners has been significant.
“I would say these are isolated cases,” Rutte said while discussing nations that declined involvement.
He further noted that approximately 5,000 aircraft operated from European bases in support of Operation Epic Fury.
“Europe is one big platform of power projection for the United States,” Rutte added.
For now, traders, military planners, and world leaders are watching the Strait of Hormuz closely. Every missile launch, tanker attack, or military response carries consequences far beyond the Middle East.
With Trump openly discussing additional strikes and oil markets already reacting, investors are bracing for the possibility that the next phase of the conflict could have an even greater impact on the global economy.
If tensions continue to rise, Americans may soon feel the effects not only in financial markets but also at gas stations across the country.
