Wednesday 08 / July / 2026
Trump says memorandum of understanding with Iran 'over'
US President Donald Trump says the interim accord to end the conflict with Iran is "over."
"As far as I'm concerned, it's over," Trump said at the NATO summit in Ankara when questioned as to whether the truce with Iran was now finished.
"It's just a waste of time dealing with them," Trump said, referring to the Iranian government and calling the leadership in Tehran "sick people."
He added that US representatives can continue negotiations, but said they would be "wasting their time."
Iran must understand 'serious negotiations' are needed: Germany
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul says the latest US attacks on Iran were warranted.
"Iran must now truly understand that serious negotiations are necessary and that further military strikes are warranted," Wadephul told German broadcaster NDR Info.
Wadephul said he did not believe the latest escalation in hostilities had undermined the ceasefire as the foundation for further talks between the US and Iran.
"I believe there is still a chance that these negotiations will actually take place," he said.
"This may be a show of force before the actual negotiations begin, and that is, of course, regrettable, because we finally need calm in the Strait of Hormuz," Wadephul said.
The strait must be "free" and "accessible" to international shipping, the German foreign minister stressed, adding that: "Iran is largely preventing that."
Khamenei's funeral procession crosses into Iraq
The funeral procession of slain Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has moved into Iraq's holy city Najaf.
Thousands of people have been accompanying Khamenei's coffin on his six-day funeral procession.
Najaf holds particular significance for Shiite Muslims because it is the burial site of Imam Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammad.
The procession is expected to continue to the shrine city of Karbala before returning to Iran, where Khamenei is set to be buried Thursday at the Shiite imam tombs in Mashhad.
Iranian media report explosions in Bushehr
Iran's state-linked Mehr news agency reported there have been blasts in the port city of Bushehr, following the latest spike in hostilities between the US and Iran.
"Explosions have been heard in Bushehr and the surrounding area," the Mehr news agency reported without providing any further details.
Bushehr is situated in southwestern Iran and is home to the country's only civilian power plant near Kharg island, the main terminal through which 90% of the nation's crude oil exports transit.
Sirens in Bahrain sound for a third time, reports of explosions
More warning sirens have sounded in Bahrain amid the latest exchange of hostilities between the US and Iran.
"The siren has been sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place ," Bahrain's Ministry of Interior said in a post on X.
An AFP news agency correspondent reported that explosions were heard in Bahrain after the latest air-raid sirens sounded.
Iran said it struck Bahrain in retaliation for the United States bombing of Iranian targets overnight.
US strikes on Iran 'absolutely necessary,' says NATO chief
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has backed the latest US strikes on Iran, calling them "absolutely necessary."
"When you have a ceasefire and Iran is basically violating the ceasefire, we see what happened yesterday with ships being attacked, I think it is totally crucial that the US forcefully reacts," Rutte told reporters before a summit of NATO allies in Ankara.
The NATO chief also indicated that Iran would be on the agenda at Wednesday's talks.
"I expect allies today to reconfirm that Iran should never ever get its hands on a nuclear capability and secondly that the principle of the freedom of navigation, so the Strait of Hormuz completely opening up again," is essential, he added.
