U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Monday that the ceasefire with Iran is in a “critical condition” after receiving Tehran’s response to Washington’s peace initiative, which he dismissed as a “piece of trash” and a “stupid proposal.”
“For now, the ceasefire remains in effect, but it is incredibly fragile—I would say the weakest it has ever been,” Trump told reporters from the Oval Office. The Republican leader added that he did not even finish reading the Iranian response because he felt he was “wasting his time.”
Trump was even harsher when discussing the content of the document sent by the Islamic Republic. “They want to negotiate and present us with a stupid proposal. It’s a stupid proposal, and no one would accept it. Only Obama would have accepted it,” he said, referring to former President Barack Obama.
Trump reiterated that his administration’s primary goal remains preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, criticizing that this commitment was not reflected in Tehran’s response. “We have a plan, and that plan is that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” he emphasized.
Despite the harsh rhetoric, Trump indicated that “a diplomatic solution remains very possible,” though he acknowledged that the truce, in effect since April 8, is at its most delicate moment.
Tensions between the two countries have escalated after Trump described the Iranian proposal on Sunday as “totally unacceptable,” though its details have not been officially disclosed. From Tehran, Iranian authorities defend their offer—which includes the release of frozen Iranian assets—as “legitimate” and “generous.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan, which is mediating the talks, has confirmed receiving Iran’s response to the latest U.S. proposal.
This comes amid a growing military escalation, following an Iranian drone attack on a commercial vessel in Qatari waters on Sunday.