Trump says US ceasefire with Iran is on ‘massive life support’
Trump called Iran’s response to his proposal a “piece of garbage” and said he “didn’t even finish reading it.”
Ethan Parker 
President Donald Trump signaled a deepening crisis in Middle East negotiations Monday, stating that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran is currently on “massive life support.” The blunt assessment came after the president flatly rejected Tehran’s latest peace proposal.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump characterized Iran’s response as a “piece of garbage,” even admitting that he “didn’t even finish reading it.”
Demands and Deadlocks
The current diplomatic friction follows a U.S. peace initiative presented last week. According to a person familiar with the sensitive matter, Iran countered by demanding relief from sanctions and the lifting of Washington’s naval blockade. Tehran also sought to maintain a level of control over traffic moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump’s original proposal suggested that Iran allow shipping to resume through the strait in exchange for an end to the blockade of Iranian ports, with formal nuclear negotiations to follow. However, Iranian state-run IRIB News described that plan as a form of surrender, insisting that the U.S. must also pay war damages and release frozen assets.
Economic and Military Escalation
The 10-week war has already ignited a global energy crisis and created significant domestic political pressure. On Monday, Brent crude prices surged past $104 per barrel in New York. To mitigate the impact on consumers, Trump voiced support for a gasoline tax holiday. He also told Fox News that he is looking at reviving a strategy to have the military escort ships through the vital waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz remains largely obstructed, cutting off a route that previously handled 20% of the world’s liquefied natural gas and oil. While a Qatari ship reportedly made it through on Monday, other vessels—including an LNG tanker—appeared to turn back.
On the military front, Iran has deployed Ghadir-class midget submarines to act as an “invisible guardian” of the chokepoint, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. These home-grown vessels are capable of firing anti-ship cruise missiles. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy faces millions in extra costs for each destroyer mission through the strait, requiring intense surveillance and support from fighter jets and helicopters.
A Global Conflict
The war continues to take a heavy toll across the Middle East, including in Lebanon, where Israel is fighting the militant group Hezbollah. Iran has insisted that any resolution must include an immediate end to all fighting in the region.
Despite the lack of a breakthrough and an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Trump maintained an optimistic public stance. “There’s no pressure at all,” he insisted. “We’re going to have a complete victory.”
Stay tuned to 205focus.com for further updates on this developing situation.
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