By The South Asia Times

WASHINGTON/TEHRAN -  US President Donald Trump said he "couldn't care less" about Iran's decision to stop adhering to the US-Iran Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), as both countries exchanged fresh military strikes and rhetoric, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.

In a brief telephone interview with US broadcaster NewsNation, cited by Al Jazeera, Trump dismissed Tehran's announcement that it was no longer abiding by the Pakistan-mediated interim agreement signed last month.

"I couldn't care less," Trump said when asked about Iran's withdrawal from the MoU, reiterating that Washington's overriding objective remains "never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon."

Iran announced earlier that it no longer considered itself bound by the Islamabad MoU, accusing the United States of repeatedly violating the agreement through renewed military operations.

The accord, brokered by Pakistan and signed on June 17, was intended to halt hostilities, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and provide a framework for negotiations toward a permanent settlement. The agreement has since come under severe strain following renewed fighting.

The latest escalation came as the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces had struck Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites.

CENTCOM also said US forces targeted elements of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that it accused of launching attacks against US service members in Jordan on July 17.

Iran, meanwhile, claimed its air defenses shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over Ahvaz, with state broadcaster Press TV saying the aircraft was destroyed by a newly deployed air defense system. The US military had not immediately commented on the claim.

Iran's military also announced it had launched drone strikes against two US military installations in Kuwait, saying it targeted an ammunition depot at Camp Udairi as well as Patriot radar and air surveillance systems at Ali Al Salem Air Base, according to a statement carried by state television.

Iranian officials signaled they would continue military retaliation if US attacks persist.

Major General Ali Abdullahi, commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned that "any aggression or barbarism will be met with a decisive and devastating response" from Iran's armed forces.

In remarks carried by Iranian state media, Abdullahi accused Washington of attempting to create divisions inside Iran after what he described as military setbacks.

"Our dear country's defensive power is a solid foundation for the peace and security of the proud and courageous nation," he said, adding that Iran would impose "heavier costs" on the United States than in previous conflicts.

The latest confrontation marks another setback for diplomatic efforts launched after months of war.

The Islamabad MoU, negotiated with Pakistani mediation, sought to end military operations and establish a 60-day process toward a comprehensive peace agreement. However, renewed US strikes beginning on July 8, followed by Iranian retaliation, have effectively derailed implementation of the accord. Pakistani officials have since acknowledged that the agreement is "facing challenges" while continuing to urge both sides to return to technical-level negotiations.

Since the renewed hostilities began, Iran has launched missiles and drones against US military facilities across the Gulf, including bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, while the United States has intensified strikes on Iranian military infrastructure and coastal defense sites.

The renewed exchanges have heightened concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy corridor, while mediators continue efforts to prevent the conflict from expanding further across the Middle East.