Ceasefire with Iran is on ‘life support’: Trump

Darwin, 12 May : US President Donald Trump has said that the ceasefire with Iran is now “on life support” and that he is considering resuming naval escort operations through the Strait of Hormuz as part of what he described as a push for “full victory” in the conflict.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump said the situation was extremely fragile.

“I would say it is on its last legs. It is on life support,” he said. “I would say the ceasefire is on the ultimate stage of life support.”

According to the AFP news agency, Trump made the remarks amid growing domestic pressure in the United States over the economic impact of the conflict.

The US president also warned that Iran’s rejection of Washington’s latest demands over the weekend had further weakened the already fragile ceasefire.

Naval escort operations under consideration

In comments to Fox News, Trump said he was considering restarting US naval escort operations for oil and commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. However, he stressed that no final decision had been made.

The initiative, reportedly referred to as “Operation Freedom,” was first launched on May 6 but was abandoned in less than two days.

Exchange of proposals with Iran

The United States had reportedly sent a set of demands to Iran aimed largely at limiting the expansion of its nuclear programme. In response, Iran submitted counter-proposals over the weekend, which Trump dismissed as “garbage.”

Trump said the deadlock did not mean the US would back down.

“We are going to achieve total victory,” he said. “Iran thinks I will get tired, that I will get frustrated, or that I will come under pressure. There is no pressure.”

Iran leadership ‘divided’

Asked whether he still intended to engage in talks with Iran, Trump said the country’s leadership was divided.

“The leadership there is split between moderates and radicals,” he said. “The radicals want to fight. And you know, that fight would be very quick.”