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Middle East
Trump says Iran ceasefire on 'life support'
United States President Donald Trump said on Monday that the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran was on “life support” after Tehran submitted what he described as an unacceptable counterproposal to Washington’s efforts to end the conflict. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said the month-old truce had become increasingly unstable following Iran’s latest response to U.S. negotiators. “The ceasefire is unbelievably weak,” 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,” Trump said. “I would say the ceasefire is on massive life support, where the doctor walks in and says, ‘Sir, your loved one has approximately a 1% chance of living,’” he said. The ceasefire began on 8 April after Trump threatened to destroy Iran’s “whole civilisation” if an agreement was not reached. Although the truce was initially intended to last for two weeks, Trump later extended it unilaterally on 21 April. Since its introduction, both Washington and Tehran have repeatedly accused one another of breaching the terms of the agreement, leaving the ceasefire under pressure from the outset. Trump had originally stated that the ceasefire
Middle East
Trump rejects Iran response on peace proposal
United States President Donald Trump on Sunday (Monday AEST) rejected Iran’s response to a U.S. proposal aimed at ending the conflict in the Middle East, as limited shipping movements resumed through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz amid continuing regional tensions. "I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called “Representatives.” I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE," Trump posted on Truth Social. “The current phase of negotiations is focused exclusively on the cessation of hostilities in the region,” Iran’s IRNA news agency reported, per Politico. The exchange followed a U.S. proposal calling for an end to hostilities before broader negotiations commenced on more contentious matters, including Iran’s nuclear program. The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, reported that Iran had proposed diluting part of its highly enriched uranium stockpile while transferring the remainder to a third country. Despite a month-old ceasefire and nearly 48 hours of relative calm, hostile drones were reportedly detected over several Gulf nations on Sunday, amid continued instability in the region. However, there were signs of limited progress in maritime activity. The QatarEnergy-operated liquefied natural gas carri
Middle East
Iran still reviewing US proposal amid clashes
Iran said it is still reviewing a new United States peace proposal delivered through Pakistani mediators, as tensions escalated again in the Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict. Iranian state media on Thursday cited Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei as saying Tehran was “currently reviewing” messages from Washington but had not yet reached a conclusion or provided a formal response. The remarks came after reports from Axios and other media outlets indicated the United States and Iran were nearing a 14-point memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war and laying the groundwork for further nuclear negotiations. Speaking at the White House, President Donald Trump said Iran wanted to “make a deal very much, and we’ll see whether or not they can make a deal that’s satisfactory to us,” according to CNBC. At a campaign event on Wednesday evening supporting Georgia Republican gubernatorial candidate Burt Jones, Trump predicted the conflict would “be over quickly,” according to CBS News. Investor attention remained focused on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important oil shipping routes, which has been heavily disrupted during the
Middle East
Trump warns of escalation if Iran deal fails
United States President Donald Trump has warned that Iran will face significantly intensified military action if it fails to agree to a proposed peace deal, as negotiations between Washington and Tehran appear to be approaching a potential resolution. Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the ongoing U.S. military campaign, known as Operation Epic Fury, “will be at an end” if Iran “agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption”. However, he issued a stark warning on the consequences of a breakdown in talks. “If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.” The comments come as Axios reported that the U.S. and Iran are close to finalising a framework agreement aimed at ending the conflict, which has been ongoing for more than two months. According to the report, the proposed memorandum would outline initial commitments from both sides while setting the stage for broader negotiations. Under the reported terms, Iran would agree to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment, while the United States would move to lift sanctions. Both sides would also scale back restrictions on maritime traffic through the strategically c
Middle East
Trump pauses 'Project Freedom' amid Iran deal hopes
United States President Donald Trump said he will temporarily pause a military operation aimed at escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, citing progress in negotiations with Iran. In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST), Trump announced that “Project Freedom”, launched just one day earlier, would be halted as diplomatic efforts advance. The operation had been designed to guide ships stranded in the Persian Gulf amid escalating conflict. Trump said the decision was based in part on “the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement” with Iran. He added that Project Freedom “will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalised and signed”. The announcement lifted investor sentiment, with stock futures moving higher on hopes that a potential agreement could bring an end to the U.S.-Israeli conflict involving Iran and allow the reopening of the strategically critical waterway. The Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy and trade flows, has been effectively closed since the outbreak of hostilities, severely disrupting shipping activity. According to the Trump administration, nearly 23,000 sailors acr

Middle East
US says Iran ceasefire still intact despite clashes
United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran remains in effect, despite renewed exchanges of fire and escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday, Hegseth insisted that recent incidents did not signal a breakdown in the truce. “The ceasefire is not over,” he said, addressing reporters following Iranian attacks on U.S. forces and commercial vessels under American protection. The flare-up came after the United States launched “Project Freedom”, an operation aimed at escorting commercial ships stranded in the Persian Gulf since the conflict began on 28 February. The initiative is designed to restore safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies. Hegseth noted that the maritime operation is separate from the broader confrontation with Iran over its nuclear programme. “Ultimately, this is a separate, distinct project,” he said, adding, “We expected there would be some churn at the beginning, which happened. And we said we would defend and defend aggressively, and we absolutely have.” He reiterated that the United States would respond firmly to any threats while urging Tehran
Middle East
Iran attacks UAE as Strait of Hormuz crisis escalates
A fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran appeared close to collapse on Monday after a series of escalating military incidents across the Strait of Hormuz, including Iranian drone and missile strikes on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and a U.S. response targeting Iranian vessels. The UAE reported multiple attacks throughout the day, with its Defence Ministry stating that air defence systems intercepted ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones launched from Iran. The ministry said its forces engaged 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones, resulting in three moderate injuries. In a statement on X, the UAE condemned what it described as “renewed terrorist, unprovoked Iranian attacks targeting civilian sites and facilities in the country using missiles and drones”, warning that it reserved the right to respond. The strikes reportedly included a drone strike on a key oil port that caused a fire, as well as damage to maritime assets. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that two ships were hit off the UAE coast, while Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) confirmed that one of its empty oil tankers was struck by Iranian drones. South Korea also reported
Middle East
Iran reviews US response to peace talks proposal
Iran said on Sunday that it had received a response from the United States to its latest proposal for peace talks, signalling a potential diplomatic opening despite ongoing tensions between the two sides. According to Iranian state media, Washington conveyed its reply via Pakistan to Tehran’s 14-point proposal, which is now under review. There was no immediate confirmation from U.S. or Pakistani officials regarding the response. “At this stage, we do not have nuclear negotiations,” state media quoted Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei as saying, indicating Tehran’s position that discussions over its nuclear programme should be deferred until after a broader agreement to end the conflict and lift blockades on Gulf shipping. U.S. President Donald Trump struck a sceptical tone a day earlier, suggesting he was unlikely to accept Iran’s proposal. “I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can’t imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years,” he wrote on Truth Social. While Trump noted on Saturday that he had yet to review the exact wording of the proposal, he reit
Middle East
Iran warns US as Strait crisis deepens
Iran has warned it will launch “long and painful strikes” against United States positions if Washington renews military attacks, as tensions intensify over the ongoing blockade and closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The latest escalation comes as President Donald Trump signalled he is prepared to maintain a U.S. naval blockade of Iran for weeks, insisting it will remain in place until Tehran agrees to a nuclear deal. Iran, however, has refused to reopen the Strait of Hormuz unless the United States withdraws its naval presence, leaving both sides locked in a high-stakes standoff with no clear resolution. Trump said the pressure from the blockade is already pushing Iran’s oil infrastructure towards breaking point. “Something happens where it just explodes,” Trump told Fox News. “They say they have only three days left before that happens. When it explodes, you can never rebuild it the way it was.” Iran responded on Thursday by reiterating its willingness to retaliate if further U.S. strikes occur, while also restating its claim over the strategic waterway. The warning complicates U.S. efforts to build an international coalition aimed at reopening the strait. Two months into the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, the Strait of