Trump Tells Reporters Iran Wants Talks After Latest US Strikes, Despite Declaring Cease-Fire 'Over'

President Donald Trump said early Thursday that Iran had reached out to renew negotiations after a second straight night of U.S. military strikes, despite his earlier claim that a cease-fire was “over.” Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said Iranian officials called after the latest round of attacks that targeted dozens of sites across Iran overnight. He defended the strikes as more effective than Iran’s responses, adding that for each attack the U.S. would strike “20” times. The comments came less than a day after Trump declared the cease-fire effectively ended following renewed attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The Pentagon said the Wednesday strikes aimed to protect travel through the Strait. Iranian state media reported at least three deaths and power outages along Iran’s southern coast, while further attacks were reported in Kuwait and Bahrain.