Washington, United States. President Donald Trump said on Monday that a ceasefire with Iran was “on life support” after he rejected Tehran’s response to a U.S. peace proposal amid a 10-week-old conflict that has killed thousands and disrupted energy flows.
Trump rejects Iran response
Days after Washington floated a proposal aimed at reopening negotiations, Iran on Sunday released a response focused on ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, where U.S. ally Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. The response was swiftly rejected by Trump.
Asked where the ceasefire stands, Trump told reporters on Monday: “I would call it the weakest right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us. I didn’t even finish reading it,” he said.
Iran’s demands and U.S. proposal
In its response, Tehran demanded compensation for war damage, emphasised its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and called on the U.S. to end its naval blockade, guarantee no further attacks, lift sanctions and remove a ban on Iranian oil sales.
The U.S. had proposed an end to fighting before starting talks on more contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme.
“Our demand is legitimate: demanding an end to the war, lifting the (U.S.) blockade and piracy, and releasing Iranian assets that have been unjustly frozen in banks due to U.S. pressure,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said.
“Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and establishing security in the region and Lebanon were other demands of Iran, which are considered a generous and responsible offer.”
Oil prices and Strait of Hormuz disruption
Brent crude oil futures traded 2.7% higher at around $104 a barrel, as the deadlock left the Strait of Hormuz largely closed. Before the war began on February 28, the narrow waterway carried one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, and has since become a central pressure point in the conflict.
Disruption caused by the near-closure of the strait has forced oil producers to cut exports, and OPEC oil output dropped further in April to the lowest in more than two decades, a Reuters survey showed on Monday.
How do you think the continuing deadlock will affect global energy markets?
