President Donald Trump has expressed skepticism about the ongoing ceasefire with Iran, describing it as being on “life support.” He is contemplating the reimplementation of U.S. naval escorts for ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to counter Iran’s blockade of this crucial maritime passage.
Trump has dismissed Iran’s recent peace proposals, labeling them as “stupid,” and firmly denied any internal pressure to negotiate a deal. Reflecting on the ceasefire that has been in place since April 7, he remarked, “I would call it the weakest, right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us – I didn’t even finish reading it.” He elaborated on the fragile state of the ceasefire by comparing it to a dire medical prognosis, suggesting it had just a “1% chance of living.”
In recent developments, Trump halted “Project Freedom,” a short-lived initiative to escort oil tankers through the strait, after it ran for just over two days. This pause was intended to provide Iran with time to respond to U.S. peace proposals. However, Saudi Arabia voiced opposition to the plan, refusing to allow its airspace or bases to be used for what it perceived as an escalatory measure. Trump’s latest remarks follow a surge in oil prices, triggered by Iran’s declaration that further negotiations on lifting the blockade would only be possible if their terms were accepted.
Last week, the U.S. presented Iran with a series of conditions aimed at de-escalating tensions, primarily focused on preventing the expansion of Tehran’s nuclear program. Over the weekend, Iran responded with counter-proposals, which Trump promptly rejected. Maj Gen Mohammad Ali Jafari, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, emphasized that Iran would not engage in further talks until several conditions were met, including the end of hostilities, lifting of sanctions, release of blocked funds, compensation for war damages, and recognition of Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.