"Ceasefire on life support": Trump's Iran tirade after rejecting proposal, calls it "garbage."

After rejecting the latest Iranian proposal to end the war, US President Donald Trump on Monday stated that a ceasefire with Iran was "on life support." This has raised concerns about a resumption of hostilities between the two countries, potentially leading to a regional conflict in the Middle East. Thousands have been killed in the war, which began on February 28 and was temporarily paused with a ceasefire on April 8. [Image: US President Donald Trump speaking in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (Bloomberg)] The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and disrupted vital energy flows, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for nearly 20% of the world's energy supplies. Amid diplomatic efforts to end the war, Iran on Sunday released a response focused on ending the conflict on all fronts, including Lebanon, where US ally Israel is fighting Hezbollah militants backed by Iran. However, Trump quickly rejected the offer. Trump stated that the ceasefire was at its weakest point, describing the Iranian proposal as "a piece of garbage." When asked about the status of the ceasefire, Trump said, "I would call it the weakest right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us. I didn't even finish reading it." Tehran has demanded compensation for war damage, emphasized its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and called on the US to end its naval blockade, guarantee no further attacks, lift sanctions, and remove a ban on Iranian oil sales. The US had proposed an end to fighting before initiating talks on more contentious issues, including Iran's nuclear program. In its defense, Iran stated on Monday, "Our demand is legitimate: demanding an end to the war, lifting the (US) blockade and piracy, and releasing Iranian assets that have been unjustly frozen in banks due to US pressure." "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," according to a Reuters report quoting foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei. Brent crude oil futures traded 2.7% higher at around $104 a barrel, as the deadlock effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz. 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 point of contention in the conflict. The near-closure of the strait has forced oil producers to cut exports, and OPEC oil output dropped further in April to the lowest level in over two decades, a Reuters survey showed on Monday.