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President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran to be "on life support" during a press briefing in the Oval Office on Monday (May 11). This statement follows his rejection of Iran's response to a U.S. peace proposal, which he described as a "piece of garbage." Iran, however, insists its response was "generous and responsible."
The ceasefire, initiated in April to facilitate peace talks, has been under strain due to ongoing tensions in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. and Iran have engaged in active clashes, with the U.S. blockading Iranian ports and Iran launching strikes on Gulf states. According to The Guardian, Iran's proposal included demands for the lifting of U.S. sanctions, an end to the naval blockade, and guarantees against renewed attacks.
President Trump criticized Iran's demands as "totally unacceptable" and reiterated his stance that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons. He emphasized that the U.S. proposal focused on rolling back Iran's nuclear capabilities before offering broader relief. ITV News reported that Iran offered to dilute part of its highly enriched uranium and called for 30-day negotiations to finalize details.
The fragile truce has caused disruptions in global oil markets, with Brent crude prices spiking by 4% following Trump's comments. Gulf News noted that the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil passes, remains a critical pressure point in the crisis.
As tensions rise, both sides remain far apart on key issues. President Trump is expected to discuss the conflict during his upcoming visit to China, where he will urge President Xi Jinping to pressure Iran into making concessions. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether diplomacy can be revived or if the region will edge closer to renewed conflict.