President Donald Trump dramatically escalated his stance toward Iran during a press conference alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO summit in Turkey, just hours after declaring that the U.S. Iran Memorandum of Understanding was “over as far as I’m concerned.” The remarks marked Trump’s strongest rhetoric since announcing he no longer considered himself bound by the agreement. Speaking to reporters, he warned that the U.S. could restore its naval blockade on Iran, launch fresh military strikes, and even seize Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal. “We may put the blockade on Iran back again,” Trump said.

He then suggested additional military action could come within hours. “I will probably hit them hard again tonight. I give them a little warning.” Trump accused the Islamic regime of repeatedly violating the agreement reached after the war, saying, “They violate the agreement every day. They lie, they cheat. They kill people.” He also indicated he no longer sees negotiations as necessary. “We may just do it without a deal. It’s easier. These people lie and cheat.” Trump again attacked the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated under former President Barack Obama, calling the JCPOA “a terrible deal” and referring to it as “the Obama nuclear waste deal.” The president also disclosed that U.S. forces struck Kharg Island overnight before floating the possibility of taking control of the strategic island altogether. “We attacked Kharg Island last night.” “We may take over Kharg Island. There is not a thing they can do about it.” Kharg Island handles the overwhelming majority of Iran’s crude oil exports, making it one of the country’s most strategically important economic assets. Any attempt to permanently occupy or control the island would represent a major escalation beyond punitive airstrikes.

Trump also revealed new details about the period immediately following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader. According to the president, Iranian officials requested that the U.S. avoid military action during the funeral ceremonies. “They said to us, ‘Please don’t kill us during the funeral.’ I said I won’t, and we didn’t do anything.” Trump then accused Iran of exploiting that restraint. “And then they attacked three ships.” Rejecting the idea that the conflict should be viewed as a conventional war, Trump argued that the U.S. campaign has a single objective. “This is not a war. It’s the denuclearization of Iran.”

The president also used the NATO summit to announce expanded military cooperation with Ukraine. Standing beside President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump said the U.S. will license Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air defense systems domestically rather than relying solely on American deliveries. “We are gonna give you a license to make Patriots,” Trump told Zelensky. “This way he can’t complain that we are not giving him enough. Make them yourself.” The comments represent the clearest indication yet that the Trump administration has shifted away from preserving the Iran agreement reached after the conflict. Earlier in the day, Trump declared the MOU effectively dead. By the evening press conference, he had moved beyond questioning the agreement, openly discussing renewed military operations, restoring the blockade, and potential territorial action against one of Iran’s most critical strategic assets.