US President Donald Trump recently characterized the ceasefire with Iran as being on “life support” and indicated that he might consider reinstating US Navy military escorts for ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz. This move aims to address the Iranian blockade of this critical waterway.
The US president dismissed Iran’s peace proposals as unwise and stated that he does not feel any domestic pressure to finalize a deal.
Discussing the ceasefire, which has been in place since April 7, 2026, Trump remarked, “I find it to be extremely weak. After reviewing the document they sent, I couldn’t even finish reading it. I would say the ceasefire is on significant life support, akin to a situation where a doctor informs you that your loved one has only about a 1% chance of survival.”
Iran has rejected the conditions set by the US for further negotiations.
Last week, the US presented Iran with several conditions aimed at preventing Tehran from expanding its nuclear program. Over the weekend, Iran submitted counter-proposals, which Trump promptly dismissed.
Trump had previously halted Project Freedom, a plan to escort oil tankers through the strait, after just two days, ostensibly to allow Iran time to respond to his peace proposals. This military escort plan faced opposition from Saudi Arabia, which expressed that it would not permit its airspace or bases to be used for what it deemed an escalatory action.
Trump’s recent comments followed a rise in oil prices after Iran announced that it would not engage in further discussions to resolve the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz unless its terms were accepted.
Maj Gen Mohammad Ali Jafari, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, stated, “As long as the war across all fronts continues, sanctions remain in place, blocked funds are unreleased, war damages are unaddressed, and Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz is not recognized, no further negotiations will occur.”
Esmail Baqaei, spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry, described Iran’s proposals as “reasonable, responsible, and generous.” He expressed optimism that an agreement could still be reached and asserted that Iran’s proposals were not unreasonable.
Mostafa Taheri, a member of the Iranian parliament’s industry commission, claimed that the revenue from proposed new transit fees for the Strait of Hormuz could amount to Ksh1.9 trillion annually, approximately one-third of Iran’s current oil revenue, which could stabilize foreign exchange reserves.
Oil prices surged to over $105 a barrel amid the ongoing deadlock, and military options that may not effectively influence Iranian policy are once again being considered.
This standoff may overshadow Trump’s upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday. Given China’s strong economic ties to Iran, Xi is likely to resist any requests from Trump to limit oil purchases or arms sales between Beijing and Tehran.
There are expectations that Trump would prefer to resolve the Iran conflict before this significant summit. Despite delaying plans in late March, he appears far from reaching an agreement with Tehran. He is reviewing military options to address Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, although Iranian officials maintain that this stockpile remains secure.
Humanitarian concerns are escalating in the Gulf waters, as individual shipping companies continue to negotiate with either Iran or the US to circumvent the blockades in the Strait of Hormuz. However, the number of tankers permitted to pass remains minimal. On Monday, the focus intensified on a cargo of Emirati liquefied petroleum gas sailing under the Panamanian flag, which had departed from Sharjah.
Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Oman’s foreign minister, engaged in discussions with Arsenio Dominguez, the secretary general of the International Maritime Organization, to establish a new regulatory framework for this vital waterway and implement urgent humanitarian measures for crews stranded on oil tankers for extended periods.
The International Maritime Organization estimates that nearly 1,500 tankers and 20,000 seafarers are currently stranded in the Gulf. Dominguez noted that essential supplies, including water, food, and fuel, will soon dwindle.
The Iranian plan that Trump dismissed primarily focused on ending the US blockade in the strait while postponing discussions regarding Iran’s nuclear program until after 30 days of confidence-building measures—an approach that both the US president and Israel oppose. Tehran argues that previous US military actions in the region prevent the Strait of Hormuz from being treated as a neutral waterway.
Economic pressure on Iran appears to be increasing. The Tehran city council has mandated a 30% reduction in electricity consumption during office hours and a 70% reduction during non-office hours, affecting both public and private sectors. Additionally, the head of the national society of internal medicine specialists reported a significant decline in the country’s medicine reserves.
Estimates suggest that Iran’s internet shutdowns result in daily losses of approximately $30 million to $40 million in sales, with indirect damages estimated to be double that amount.
While the Iranian parliament has not convened in public during the conflict, it has begun holding online sessions as advised by the country’s supreme national security council.
The Iranian reformist press reported, “Inflation, reduced purchasing power, and concerns regarding essential goods supply are placing substantial pressure on public sentiment.”
On Tuesday, the UK and France plan to host a meeting with up to 40 defense ministers to discuss contributions to a task force aimed at ensuring free naval passage in the Strait of Hormuz following any potential US-Iran agreement.
