President Donald Trump has declared that the ceasefire agreement with Iran is on “life support,” as he contemplates the reintroduction of U.S. naval escorts for ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz. This move aims to counter the Iranian blockade of this crucial maritime passage. Trump’s comments come after dismissing Iran’s peace proposals, labeling them as “stupid,” and insisting that he faces no internal pressure to broker a deal.
The ceasefire, which has been in effect since April 7, is described by Trump as exceptionally fragile. He criticized the proposal sent by Iran, stating, “I didn’t even finish reading it. 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% chance of living.’” Just last week, the U.S. had communicated conditions to Iran aimed at defusing the conflict, primarily focusing on preventing Tehran from advancing its nuclear program. However, Iran’s counter-proposals were swiftly rejected by Trump.
Previously, Trump halted “Project Freedom”—a brief initiative to escort oil tankers through the strait—after just a few days. This pause was ostensibly to allow Iran time to consider the U.S. peace proposals. The military escort plan also faced opposition from Saudi Arabia, which expressed concerns about potential escalation and refused to permit its airspace or bases to be used in support of the operation.
Following Trump’s latest remarks, oil prices surged once more as Iran declared it would not engage in further discussions regarding the blockade’s cessation without its conditions being met. Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, emphasized Iran’s stance, stating, “As long as the war on all fronts is not over, sanctions are not lifted, blocked funds are not released, war damages are not compensated, and Iran’s sovereignty over the strait of Hormuz not recognised, there will be no other negotiations.”