Trump Declares U.S.-Iran Ceasefire on ‘Life Support’ as Peace Talks Stall Over Nuclear Demands and Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump announced Monday that the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is on “massive life support,” sharply rejecting Tehran’s latest counterproposal to formally end months of hostilities as “totally unacceptable” and a “piece of garbage.”
The month-old truce, first brokered through Pakistani mediators in early April following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and Iranian retaliation that included missile attacks and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, has held amid sporadic flare-ups but now appears increasingly precarious. Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, said he barely reviewed Iran’s response, which was transmitted Sunday via Pakistan and focused on ending the war on all fronts without sufficient nuclear concessions from Tehran.
“I would call it the weakest right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us. I didn’t even finish reading it,” Trump said. “I would say the ceasefire is on massive life support, where the doctor walks in and says, ‘Sir, your loved one has approximately a 1 percent chance of living.’”
He added that Iran’s proposal omitted key U.S. demands, including verifiable steps to dismantle aspects of its nuclear program and full reopening of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had partially blockaded during the conflict. Trump has repeatedly threatened to resume major military operations if a deal is not reached, while noting that U.S. naval forces continue to enforce a blockade of Iranian ports.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has overseen U.S. military responses in the Persian Gulf—including “Project Freedom,” an operation to escort commercial vessels through the strait—reaffirmed last week that the ceasefire remains intact despite recent exchanges of fire. “No, the ceasefire is not over,” Hegseth said in a Pentagon briefing. “Ultimately, this is a separate and distinct project, and we expected there would be some churn at the beginning.”
Iranian officials pushed back firmly on Monday, defending their counteroffer as reasonable and accusing Washington of making one-sided demands. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated, “We did not demand any concessions — the only thing we demanded was Iran’s legitimate rights. The American side still insists on its one-sided views and unreasonable demands.”
Baghaei added that Tehran expects the U.S. to first halt its “illegal economic blockade and acts of piracy” before any broader agreement. Iranian state media described the response as focused on a permanent end to the conflict, including sanctions relief, the return of frozen assets, and recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the strait, without temporary pauses or unilateral nuclear capitulation.
The impasse comes as global oil prices have surged in recent weeks due to the ongoing tensions, with the Strait of Hormuz—through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil passes—remaining a flashpoint. Analysts say progress is unlikely before Trump’s scheduled meeting later this week with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a key player in regional diplomacy.
U.S. officials have signaled that Trump is considering limited military action to pressure Iran on its nuclear program, even as both sides insist major combat has not resumed. Iran has maintained its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, while the Trump administration has demanded verifiable dismantlement to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.
The ceasefire, initially a short-term measure to de-escalate after direct U.S.-Iran clashes, has been extended several times at the request of mediators. Trump has described Iran’s leadership as divided between “moderates and lunatics” and accused Tehran of “playing games” for decades.
As of Monday evening, neither side had declared the truce over, but Trump’s stark assessment and rejection of the latest proposal have cast doubt on near-term negotiations. Regional sources say the coming days could determine whether the fragile peace collapses into renewed conflict or opens a narrow window for further talks.
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