Middle East tensions rise as Trump dismisses ceasefire

US President Donald Trump addressed the conflict in Iran on Monday, calling the ceasefire "sort of a waste of time" as regional leaders held high-level talks to prevent further escalation.

Speaking during a campaign rally in Mississippi, Trump reflected on earlier diplomatic efforts surrounding the conflict, expressing dissatisfaction with past arrangements.

"We did a little ceasefire, which I never liked very much.

I considered it sort of a waste of time.

But, you know, you like to listen to professionals, but we did a little ceasefire, so we let some ships get in.

You know, we want to be nice, but it was just a waste of time as far as I'm concerned.

But we're doing a job.

We're doing a job for you." said Trump.

In Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a stern warning during a televised address, stating that renewed military strikes against Iran risked further destabilising the region and inflicting heavy economic costs on uninvolved nations.

He urged all parties to avoid actions that could "drag" neighbouring countries into a "new spiral" of violence in an unwanted conflict.

Meanwhile in Tehran, the Iranian National Security Council hosted a quadrilateral meeting alongside defence and intelligence chiefs from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan.

Iranian officials highlighted a positive shift in regional dialogue followingmilitary action, arguing that regional security must be managed by regional states without foreign intervention.

The delegation also called for a total withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied territories across southern Lebanon, southern Syria, Gaza, and the West Bank.

However, with diplomatic solutions crumbling and military tensions escalating, deep uncertainty remains over whether a restart of conflict can be averted.