Trump says Iran ceasefire on 'life support' after rejecting new proposal
Trump has demanded a major rollback of Iran’s nuclear activities, while Tehran is seeking a more limited agreement that would ease restrictions and reopen key trade routes ahead of further talks.
US President Donald Trump on Monday said the Iran ceasefire is on "life support" after he rejected Tehran's latest proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.
Officials said Iran's proposal included limited concessions on its disputed nuclear programme, but Trump dismissed it as "garbage" and said he did not even finish reading it.
Speaking at an unrelated White House event, Trump said the ceasefire was "unbelievably weak" and described its current condition as being on "life support."
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"I would call it the weakest right now after reading that piece of garbage they sent us," he said, adding, "I didn't even finish reading it."
The stalled negotiations and recent exchanges of fire have raised concerns of renewed conflict in the Middle East, potentially deepening a global energy crisis linked to the war. The situation has also kept tensions high over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil route.
Trump said he would consider suspending the federal tax on gasoline to help Americans cope with rising fuel prices, though such a move would require approval from Congress.
He is expected to raise the issue during a planned visit to China this week, where he is likely to urge President Xi Jinping to put pressure on Iran, China being the largest buyer of Iranian crude oil.
Meanwhile, diplomatic gaps remain wide between the two sides. Trump has demanded a major rollback of Iran's nuclear activities, while Tehran is seeking a more limited agreement that would ease restrictions and reopen key trade routes ahead of further talks.
According to regional officials quoted by The Associated Press, Iran has proposed diluting part of its highly enriched uranium and transferring the rest to a third country, with Russia previously offering to host it.
However, Trump has insisted that all nuclear material be removed completely and is reportedly unlikely to accept Iran's broader conditions, including formal arrangements over maritime control and compensation demands.
