Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned US President Donald Trump's "derogatory language" as tensions between the two nations flared once again, threatening to unravel a fragile peace framework reached just weeks earlier.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has fired back at US President Donald Trump after the American leader branded Iran's leadership "scum" and "violent people," reigniting a war of words that coincided with a fresh round of American military strikes inside Iranian territory.
The dispute erupted as Washington resumed its bombing campaign against Iran, marking the most serious escalation since the two countries agreed to a preliminary peace framework last month, a deal now hanging by a thread.
"Addressing the Civilized and Courageous Nation of Iran with derogatory language does not diminish its Greatness," Araghchi wrote on X on Wednesday evening.
"Iranians are known for their civility, culture, and strong moral values. We do not answer vulgarity with vulgarity, but with action: fearlessly and with great valor," he added, signaling that Tehran had no intention of backing down despite the mounting pressure.
Although the top diplomat did not name Trump directly, Iranian state broadcaster Press TV confirmed he was responding to remarks the US president made earlier that day at a NATO summit in Türkiye, remarks that have since drawn sharp criticism from Iranian officials and commentators alike.
Speaking alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump declared that he now considered the ceasefire with Iran to be "over."
"I don't want to deal with them any more. They're scum," Trump said. "They're led by sick people and they're vicious, violent people. And if they had a nuclear weapon, they'd use it. As far as I'm concerned, it's over."
His comments came just hours before the US launched a second consecutive night of strikes on Iranian targets, which Trump described as "retribution" for attacks on commercial vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil shipping routes.
Tehran swiftly condemned the renewed bombardment as a direct violation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on June 17, vowing that it would not let the breach go unanswered. Iranian officials have since signaled that retaliatory measures are being actively considered, raising fears of a broader military confrontation in the Gulf region.
While Iran has stopped short of officially claiming responsibility for the attacks on three tankers earlier in the week, Iranian media quoted officials suggesting the vessels had attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz without proper authorization, an assertion that has done little to ease international concern over the safety of maritime trade in the area.
At the heart of the dispute lies a fundamental disagreement over how to interpret the MoU itself. Under the terms of the agreement, Tehran committed to "make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels" through the strait, while Iran and Oman were tasked with opening negotiations to "define the future administration and maritime services" in the waterway. Iran, however, has repeatedly asserted its right to regulate shipping traffic through the passage and to levy tolls on vessels passing through, a position Washington and its allies have firmly rejected.
With both sides trading accusations and the ceasefire framework now effectively in tatters, analysts warn that the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply flows, could become the flashpoint for a far more dangerous confrontation if diplomatic channels fail to de-escalate the situation in the coming days. Global energy markets have already shown signs of jitters, with shipping insurers and commercial operators closely monitoring the situation before committing vessels to the route.