Live updates: Trump says ceasefire with Iran on ‘massive life support’ after he rejects Tehran’s proposal

Trump Iran Ceasefire: President Rejects Tehran Proposal, Warns Deal on “Life Support”

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

President Donald Trump declared the Iran ceasefire negotiations “on massive life support” after rejecting Tehran’s latest proposal, sending diplomatic efforts into crisis.

The president made the comments during an unscheduled briefing at the White House, where he detailed what he called “unacceptable demands” from Iranian negotiators.

The collapse of talks threatens to restart a military conflict that had paused after 19 days of US airstrikes killed 147 people across Iran and allied targets. European diplomats had spent the past week shuttling between Washington and Geneva hoping to secure a permanent truce.

Trump told reporters the Iranian proposal included demands for immediate sanctions relief and restrictions on US naval operations in the Persian Gulf. “They wanted us to essentially surrender our strategic position before they would even consider stopping their proxy attacks,” the president said, standing beside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The rejection triggered immediate market reactions, with oil prices jumping $4.30 to $89.70 per barrel within minutes of the announcement. Brent crude futures showed similar gains as traders priced in renewed conflict risk. Pentagon officials confirmed they had raised the readiness level for US forces in the region, though they declined to specify exact measures.

Iranian state television broadcast a terse response from Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who said Tehran had offered “reasonable compromise” including verifiable limits on uranium enrichment. Araghchi spoke from Moscow, where he had flown for emergency consultations with Russian officials Tuesday morning. The Iranian diplomat warned that Trump’s stance could unleash “uncontrolled escalation” across the region.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed disappointment at the breakdown, telling reporters in Brussels that mediators had viewed the Iranian offer as “a genuine opening position.” Kallas said EU delegations would continue seeking dialogue channels despite Trump’s rejection. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock cut short a trip to Africa and flew back to Berlin for crisis consultations with Friedrich Merz’s government.

US military officials described heightened alert status across Middle East bases. A defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said additional Patriot missile batteries had been activated in Kuwait and Qatar overnight. The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower remains positioned in the Gulf of Oman with its strike group. Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot confirmed B-52 bombers had resumed round-the-clock presence missions, though he declined to specify flight paths.

The breakdown creates complications for Israel, which had quietly supported the ceasefire effort. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a cautious statement urging “all parties to consider regional stability,” while Israeli military officials privately expressed concerns about renewed Iranian weapons transfers to Hezbollah. Channel 12 television reported Israeli intelligence believes Iran has moved additional ballistic missiles to Syrian bases in recent days.

Regional stock markets tumbled on the news, with Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul index falling 2.8 percent and Dubai’s markets down 3.1 percent. Aviation authorities extended flight restrictions through Iranian and Iraqi airspace, forcing longer routes for cargo traffic between Asia and Europe. United Airlines announced it would suspend New Delhi-Chicago service indefinitely, affecting thousands of passengers.

Background

The conflict erupted on April 27 when Iran-backed militias launched a coordinated rocket attack on US facilities in Iraq, killing 3 American contractors. Trump ordered retaliatory strikes within hours, targeting Iranian Revolutionary Guard positions in Syria and Iraq. The cycle escalated dramatically when Iran fired 150 ballistic missiles at Israel on May 3, prompting the largest US military response since 2003 with strikes across Iranian nuclear facilities and military bases.

Previous diplomatic efforts had shown promise last week when Oman offered to host talks. European diplomats shuttled between capitals proposing compromises on uranium enrichment levels and sanctions relief. The pause in fighting since May 7 had allowed humanitarian corridors to open in Syria and enabled limited commercial air traffic to resume from Tehran’s international airport.

What’s Next

Qatar has offered to mediate fresh talks next week, though US officials signaled little appetite for new negotiations. Congress will receive classified briefings on military options Friday, while the UN Security Council scheduled an emergency session for Monday. Oil analysts predict prices could hit $100 per barrel if fighting resumes, particularly if Iranian forces attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz.

The rejection leaves Trump’s Iran strategy in limbo with limited obvious paths forward except military escalation. European allies face pressure to maintain sanctions enforcement while seeking off-ramps. Iran’s next move remains unclear, though regional intelligence services warn the Islamic Republic may launch proxy attacks through allied militias to avoid direct confrontation with US forces.