Trump says Iran ceasefire 'on life support' after rejecting Tehran's peace counterproposal
Primary region Middle East
Tags Diplomacy · Security · Energy
Regions Middle East · US
President Donald Trump rejected Iran's counterproposal to end the 10-week war, calling it 'garbage' and 'totally unacceptable,' saying the April 7 ceasefire is now 'on life support.' Iran's response demanded war reparations, full sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, an end to sanctions, and release of frozen assets. Tehran offered to dilute some highly enriched uranium and transfer the rest to a third country, but rejected US demands regarding its nuclear program. The deadlock has kept the Strait of Hormuz largely closed, pushing Brent crude above $104/barrel, and hangs over the upcoming Trump-Xi summit in Beijing.
Strategic interpretation
Iran is leveraging its control of the Strait of Hormuz as its primary bargaining chip, knowing global energy markets give it outsized leverage. Trump's public rejection is a pressure tactic to force Iranian concessions before the Xi summit, where China's role as Iran's largest oil buyer becomes pivotal. Both sides are positioning for escalation — Trump has threatened to resume bombing, while Iran's military warned of 'surprising options.'