Monday, May 18Monday, May 18U.S. President Donald Trump has declared the ceasefire with Iran "unbelievably weak" and "on massive life support" after rejecting Tehran’s latest peace proposal, which he dismissed as "garbage," "stupid," and "totally unacceptable." Trump stated he did not even finish reading Iran’s counteroffer, calling it inappropriate and omitting key U.S. demands, such as Iran relinquishing its stockpile of enriched uranium. The ceasefire, in place since April 7, now faces collapse as negotiations remain deadlocked .
Iranian officials, including Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, have asserted that Tehran is prepared for any eventuality and that the U.S. has no alternative but to accept Iran’s 14-point proposal to end the conflict. Iranian state media reported that Tehran rejected the U.S. proposal as tantamount to surrender, further straining diplomatic efforts .
Trump is meeting with his national security team to discuss potential military responses, including resuming U.S. Navy escorts through the Strait of Hormuz (Project Freedom) or launching a new bombing campaign against Iranian targets. Israeli officials have urged Trump to authorize a special forces operation to secure Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, though Trump is reportedly hesitant due to the high risks involved. The U.S. military has identified 25 additional targets in Iran but has not yet struck them .
Trump’s decision-making may be influenced by his upcoming trip to China, with U.S. officials suggesting he is unlikely to order military action before returning. However, Trump has publicly threatened to bomb Iranian infrastructure if diplomacy fails, and U.S. officials indicate he is leaning toward military pressure to force concessions on Iran’s nuclear program .
The Strait of Hormuz remains closed, exacerbating regional tensions, while Turkey’s foreign minister is engaging in diplomatic efforts to address the crisis and restore navigational safety in the waterway . Oil prices have surged in response to the escalating tensions, with Brent crude surpassing $104 per barrel .
> Background: **Trump Rejects Irans Ceasefire Terms Weighs Military Action** — *10 hours ago*
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Middle East war live: US-Iran talks deadlocked, Strait of Hormuz still closed US President Donald Trump warned that Tehrans rejection of his administrations demands meant the already tenuous ceasefire is now unbelievably weak, and called Irans counteroffer garbage. Meanwhile, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who served as chief negotiator in previous talks with Washington, said his country was prepared for any eventuality. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
france24 · 6 days ago
Iran-US war latest: Trump considering military action after calling Tehrans proposal garbage A ceasefire was set up for peace talks between Iran and the US - but with Trump rejecting Irans response on Sunday there are fears fighting could resume
independent · 6 days ago
Trump news at a glance: president says he didnt even finish reading Irans peace proposals Ceasefire on life support, Trump says as he considers restarting US navy military escorts of ships through the strait of Hormuz – key US politics stories from 11 May 2026 at a glanceDonald Trump has dismissed Irans latest peace proposals as stupid and denied he was under any domestic pressure to reach a deal.Referring to the ceasefire in force since 7 April, Trump said: I would call it the weakest, right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us – I didnt even finish reading it. Continue reading...
theguardian · 6 days ago
Iran war live: Trump slams Iranian proposal as ceasefire hangs by a thread Irans powerful parliamentary speaker says US has no alternative but to accept Tehrans 14-point proposal to end war.
aljazeera · 6 days ago
Middle East crisis live: Trump rejects Irans response to US peace deal; UN urges genuine ceasefire as Israel intensifies Lebanon strikes US president said Irans response to the US peace proposal was stupid and that the ceasefire is unbelievable weakTrump calls Irans response to peace plan totally unacceptable as ceasefire fraysTurkeys foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, will visit Qatar later today for talks on the war, its impact on the region and efforts to ensure navigational safety in the strait of Hormuz is resumed, a Turkish diplomatic source told the Reuters news agency.Turkey, which neighbours Iran, has been in close contact with the US, Iran and mediator Pakistan since the start of the conflict. It condemnded the US and Israel for launching the war, widely seen to have been done illegally, but also criticised Irans counter strikes on Gulf states. Continue reading...
theguardian · 6 days ago
Trump weighs military action against Iran with ceasefire on life support President Trump is meeting with his national security team Monday to discuss the way forward in the Iran war, including possibly resuming military action, after negotiations with the country deadlocked on Sunday, three U.S. officials said. Why it matters: U.S. officials say Trump wants a deal to end the war, but Irans rejection of many of his demands and refusal to make meaningful concessions on its nuclear program puts the military option back on the table. Trump publicly threatened several times in recent days to bomb infrastructure facilities in Iran if diplomacy failed. Driving the news: The U.S. waited 10 days for Irans response to its draft proposal for ending the war. The White House was optimistic that Irans positions would show further progress toward a deal. But the Iranian response that arrived on Sunday was not positive. Irans state TV reported that Tehran has rejected the U.S. proposal, which it said meant Irans surrender to Trumps excessive demands.Trump rejected Irans response on Sunday. I dont like it. It is inappropriate, he told Axios. Behind the scenes: Vice President Vance, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Rubio, Secretary of Defense Hegseth, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, CIA director John Ratcliffe and other senior officials are expected to participate in the Iran meeting on Monday, U.S. officials say. What hes saying: I have a plan. Iran cant have a nuclear weapon, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Monday before the meeting. The ceasefire with Iran is on massive life support, Trump added. Trump said Iran had agreed to relinquish its stockpile of enriched uranium to the U.S. But he said the Iranians apparently reversed course because their response Sunday omitted any mention of the issue. Trump said the Iranian leadership is divided between moderates and lunatics.State of play: Two U.S. officials said Trump is leaning toward taking some form of military action against Iran to increase pressure on the regime and force concessions on its nuclear program. He will tune them up a bit, one U.S. official said.I think we all know where this is going, a second U.S. official said. What to watch: One option Trump is considering is resuming Project Freedom, the U.S. operation to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which was suspended last week. Another option is to resume the bombing campaign and strike the 25 of targets the U.S. military identified but hasnt hit yet. The Israeli government wants Trump to order a special forces operation to secure Irans enriched uranium stockpile. Israeli officials say Trump is hesitant to order such an operation because it is highly risky. The big picture: One consideration for Trump as he weighs next steps in the war is his trip to China this week. The president is expected to leave Wednesday and return Friday. Two U.S. officials said they dont think Trump would order military action against Iran before he returns from China. U.S. officials say Trump is expected to discuss the Iran war with Chinese President Xi Jinping. China has been urging Iran to reach a deal with the U.S. on ending the war and curbing its nuclear program, so far with no success.
axios · 6 days ago
Iran-US war latest: Trump says ceasefire on massive life support after Tehran hit back at presidents outburst A ceasefire was set up for peace talks between Iran and the US - but with Trump rejecting Irans response on Sunday there are fears fighting could resume
independent · 6 days ago
Trump says Iran ceasefire is on life support US president rejects Iranian proposal for temporary peace deal ahead of trip to China
financial times · 6 days ago
Trump says ceasefire is on life support after rejecting Irans proposal US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was on life support after rejecting Tehrans latest proposal.
aljazeera · 6 days ago
Brent oil tops $104 after Trump says ceasefire with Iran is on life support Oil prices jumped on Monday after Israel warned that the conflict with Iran was still ongoing.
cnbc · 6 days ago