Trump declares Iran ceasefire on 'life support'

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the Iran ceasefire is on “life support” and that he is considering restarting naval escorts through the Hormuz Strait waterway as he seeks “complete victory” in the war.

Amid growing pressure at home over the war’s impact on the US economy, Trump warned that Iran’s rejection over the weekend of Washington’s demands meant the already tenuous ceasefire is now “unbelievably weak.”

“I would say it’s one of the weakest right now, it’s on life support,” he told reporters in the White House. “I would say the ceasefire is on massive life support.”

Separately, Trump told Fox News that he was considering renewing a US attempt to escort oil and other commercial shipping through Hormuz, but that he had not yet taken a final decision.

Also read: Iran war raises stakes for US and China ahead of Trump–Xi talks

The initiative, dubbed Operation Freedom, was first launched on May 6 but abandoned less than two days later.

The United States sent Iran a set of conditions for easing the conflict, mostly related to preventing the country from being able to expand its nuclear program.

At the weekend, Iran sent counter-proposals which Trump told reporters on Monday were “garbage.”

The impasse does not mean the United States will back off, Trump said.

“We’re going to have a complete victory,” he said. Iran thinks “I’ll get tired of this. I’ll get bored, or I’ll have some pressure. But there’s no pressure.”

Asked if he was still willing to negotiate with Iran, Trump said the leadership there was divided into “moderates” and “lunatics.”

“The lunatics want to fight til the end. You know, it’ll be a very quick fight.”