US President Donald Trump has said the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is barely holding, describing the truce as being on “massive life support” as tensions remain high and negotiations stall.
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Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said the month-long ceasefire was still technically in effect but extremely fragile. He compared the situation to a patient with almost no chance of survival.
“I would say the ceasefire is on massive life support,” Trump said. “When the doctor walks in and says your loved one has approximately a 1 percent chance of living.”
The comments came a day after Iran submitted a counter-proposal outlining conditions it says are necessary to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global energy supplies. Trump rejected the proposal outright, calling it “totally unacceptable” and dismissing it as a “piece of garbage”.
Iran defends proposal
Iran’s foreign ministry defended the offer, saying it was a serious attempt to resolve the conflict. Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei described the proposals as “responsible” and “generous”.
According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, Tehran’s counter-offer includes several demands. Among them are an immediate end to the war across all fronts, a halt to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, and guarantees that Iran will not face further attacks.
The reference to ending hostilities “on all fronts” includes ongoing Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, a group backed by Iran.
The proposal also calls for compensation for damage caused during the conflict and stresses Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump reacted strongly on social media after reviewing the document.
“I have just read the response from Iran's so-called ‘Representatives.’ I don't like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE,” he wrote on Sunday.
Dispute over nuclear material
Trump also accused Iran of reversing its position on allowing the United States to remove its stockpile of enriched uranium. The US president reiterated his position that Iran would never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
However, Tasnim cited a source close to Iran’s negotiating team who rejected that claim, saying Iran’s proposal contains no agreement permitting enriched uranium to be taken out of the country.
The disagreement highlights a central dispute in the negotiations, which have struggled to move forward despite the ceasefire.
Earlier in the week, Trump said he believed the conflict could end quickly. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested the situation was far from resolved.
In an interview on the CBS programme 60 Minutes, Netanyahu said the conflict could not be considered over until Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile is removed and its nuclear enrichment facilities dismantled.
“There’s still enrichment sites that have to be dismantled,” he said.
Global energy concerns
Details of the US negotiating framework have also begun to emerge. According to the US news outlet Axios, an initial one-page memorandum from Washington includes 14 points.
The proposals reportedly involve suspending Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities, easing sanctions on Tehran, and restoring free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Axios cited two US officials and two additional sources familiar with the discussions, though none were named.
Many of the provisions in the memorandum would only take effect once a final agreement is reached, the report said.
Meanwhile, Iran has continued to block the Strait of Hormuz, a move that has driven global oil prices higher. Normally about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass through the narrow waterway.
The United States has responded by enforcing a naval blockade of Iranian ports in an attempt to pressure Tehran into accepting its conditions — a measure that Iranian officials have strongly condemned.
The conflict escalated sharply on 28 February when US and Israeli forces launched large-scale air strikes on Iranian targets. A ceasefire was agreed last month, but sporadic exchanges of fire have continued since then.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 12 May 2026
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