US President warns truce remains fragile amid Strait of Hormuz tensions, insists any deal with Iran must end its pursuit of nuclear weapons

US President Donald Trump on Monday said the monthlong ceasefire between the United States and Iran was on “massive life support”, describing the truce as “unbelievably weak” amid continuing tensions and exchanges in the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said the ceasefire technically remained in effect but warned that it was increasingly fragile as both sides continued hostile actions at sea.

“I would say the ceasefire is on massive life support,” CNN quoted Trump as saying.

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The remarks came as Washington and Tehran remained deadlocked over Iran’s nuclear programme, with Trump reiterating that any agreement would require Iran to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

“I have a plan — you know, it’s a very simple plan, I don’t know why you don’t say it like it is, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told reporters.

The US president also rejected Iran’s latest counterproposal aimed at ending the conflict, calling it “a stupid proposal” and “simply unacceptable.”

“But I have a great plan — but the plan is they cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he added. “And they didn’t say that in their letter.”

Trump said Iran had earlier agreed to allow the US to remove its stockpile of enriched uranium but later backed away from the understanding.

“They did two days ago,” Trump said. “But they changed their mind, because they didn’t put it in the paper.”

Referring to uranium stored beneath nuclear facilities targeted by US strikes last year, Trump said Iran had initially told Washington that the US would have to retrieve the material itself.

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“They told me, number one, you’re getting it, but you’re going to have to take it out,” Trump said. “The site was so obliterated that there’s only one or two countries in the world that could get it.”

He added that Iran had identified China as the only other country capable of carrying out such an operation.

Despite earlier discussions, Trump said Iran’s latest submission omitted any reference to handing over the enriched uranium stockpile.

“They just can’t get there,” he said. “They agree with us and then they take it back.”

Trump also sharply criticised the Iranian leadership, accusing it of repeatedly changing positions during negotiations.

“They’re very dishonorable people, the leadership. They just change their mind. I’ve had that in business many times. These people, you make a deal, and then they send you a document that takes five days to get there when it should’ve been there in 20 minutes,” he said.

Trump also claimed divisions existed within the Iranian leadership, distinguishing between what he called “moderates” seeking a settlement and “lunatics” pushing for continued confrontation.

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“You have the moderates, and you have the lunatics. And I think the moderates are more respected. The lunatics want to fight till the end,” he said.

“The moderates are dying to make a deal. And then you have the lunatics, and I guess they’re a little bit afraid of the lunatics,” Trump added.

With inputs from agencies

First Published:
May 11, 2026, 23:02 IST

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