Iran ceasefire is ‘on life support’ as hopes for a deal fade, says Trump

WASHINGTON/DUBAI, May 12 ------ US President Donald Trump said that a ceasefire with Iran was “on life support” after Tehran’s response to a US proposal to end the war made clear the two sides were still far apart on a number of issues.

Iran has called for an end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, where US ally Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. Tehran also demanded compensation for war damage, an end to the US naval blockade, a guarantee of no further attacks, and resumption of Iranian oil sales. Tehran also emphasized its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, where it has shut down shipping traffic that normally carries one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply.

Trump said Iran’s response threatened the status of a ceasefire that has been in place since April 7. “I would call it the weakest right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us. I didn’t even finish reading it,” he said. The US had proposed an end to fighting before starting talks on more contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran defended its stance on Monday.

“Our demand is legitimate,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said. Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer ‌Qalibaf said that Iran’s armed forces are ready to respond decisively to any “act of aggression.” Trump has repeatedly threatened to end the ceasefire between the two countries since it took effect on April 7. But he has also sought to downplay tensions following a series of naval clashes last week.

Brent crude oil futures traded 2.7% higher at around $104 a barrel, as the deadlock left the Strait of Hormuz largely closed. Before the war began on February 28, the narrow waterway carried one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, and has since become a central pressure point in the conflict. Disruption caused by the near-closure of the strait has forced oil producers to cut exports, and OPEC oil output dropped further in April to the lowest in more than two decades, a Reuters survey showed on Monday.

Source: rappler.com