Donald Trump said on Monday (11 May) that the fragile truce between the United States and Iran was at its “weakest” point and on “massive life support” after rejecting Tehran’s latest proposal to end the months-long conflict.
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump sharply criticized Iran’s response to the ongoing negotiations, calling the proposal “garbage.”
“He’s the weakest … After reading the piece of garbage they sent us … He’s on life support, massive life support,” Trump told reporters.
People also ask
Artificial intelligence reinforced the insights from this story
•5 QUESTIONS
Donald Trump has said the fragile truce between the United States and Iran is at its “weakest” point and on “massive life support” after rejecting Tehran’s latest proposal.
Donald Trump has called Iran’s latest proposal “garbage” and “completely unacceptable”, suggesting he hasn’t even read the document.
Iran’s proposal includes an end to the US naval blockade, sanctions relief, the release of frozen assets, compensation for war damages and a guarantee against further attacks, along with the transfer of some of the enriched uranium to a third country.
The future of Iran’s nuclear program, including its highly enriched uranium stockpile and enrichment sites, remains a sticking point and a major obstacle to a broader settlement.
The conflict has significantly disrupted global energy markets, leading to significantly higher fuel prices worldwide, particularly due to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump doubled down on his criticism, saying he hadn’t even read the document.
“I’d call it the weakest right now. After reading the garbage they sent us. I haven’t even finished it,” he said.
Trump dismisses Iran proposal as ‘completely unacceptable’
The remarks came a day after Trump publicly rejected Tehran’s latest proposal for a truce, raising hopes of a possible diplomatic breakthrough.
“I just read the response from Iran’s so-called ‘representatives’. I don’t like it,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, calling the proposal “totally unacceptable.”
The president indicated that Iran believes Washington will eventually buckle under pressure.
“They think I’m going to get tired, or I’m going to be bored, or I’m going to have some pressure, but there’s no pressure at all. We’re going to have a total victory,” Trump said.
Trump says Iran cannot have nuclear weapons
Trump reiterated that the United States would not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons, and claimed that Tehran had already suffered major military setbacks.
“I have the best plan ever. Iran has been defeated militarily. Totally,” Trump said.
“They’ve got some left; they’ve probably built up during this time. We’ll destroy it in about a day.”
Trump added: “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. They are very dangerous. They are very unstable.”
The US has reportedly demanded that Iran completely halt uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian assets.
Trump also claimed that Iranian officials told Washington that some nuclear material was buried so deep that the US would have to “dig up the nuclear dust”.
Conflict and ceasefire talks
The conflict between the US, Israel and Iran began on February 28 and led to a major military escalation throughout the region.
Although active attacks were suspended following the April 8 ceasefire agreement, negotiations aimed at securing a permanent settlement have repeatedly stalled.
Pakistan hosted one round of direct talks between Washington and Tehran on April 11, but no agreement was reached.
The negotiations also include demands regarding the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes.
Iran demands sanctions relief and asset release
Iranian officials have defended their latest proposal, rejecting accusations that Tehran is seeking concessions.
“We didn’t ask for any concessions. All we asked for were Iran’s legitimate rights,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday.
According to Tehran, the proposal called for an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, the easing of sanctions and the release of frozen Iranian assets held abroad.
Iran also reportedly demanded an end to regional military operations involving Iran-backed groups.
The United States and its allies have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, which Tehran continues to deny.
Netanyahu says the conflict is not over
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday (May 10th) that the conflict will continue until Iran’s nuclear infrastructure is dismantled.
“It’s not over because there’s still nuclear material — enriched uranium — that needs to be taken out of Iran,” Netanyahu said on CBS’ “60 Minutes.”
“There are still enrichment sites that need to be dismantled,” he added.
Tensions are rising around the Strait of Hormuz
Global attention continues to focus on the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil passes.
Iran has restricted maritime traffic on the waterway and introduced toll mechanisms for ships passing through, raising fears of further disruption to global energy markets.
US officials have called Iran’s control of an international shipping lane “unacceptable”.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials have issued new warnings of US military action.
“Our restraint is over as of today,” Ebrahim Rezaei said in a statement on social media.
“Any attack on our vessels will provoke a strong and decisive Iranian response against US ships and bases,” he warned.
