diplomacyMay 12, 2026

Trump news at a glance: president says he ‘didn’t even finish reading’ Iran’s peace proposals

Summary

Donald Trump has dismissed Iran’s 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 didn’t even finish reading it. “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.’” Trump’s latest comments came after oil prices jumped again when Iran said there would be no further talks about ending the blockade of the strait of Hormuz unless he accepted its terms. Catching up? Here’s what happened on 10 May 2026.

Perspectives

Iranian Official

Iran firmly rejects the US administration’s arrogant dismissal of its legitimate peace proposals as an act of foreign aggression aimed at undermining Tehran’s sovereignty. In defense of its national interests, Iran has made clear that any discussions on easing the Strait of Hormuz measures will only proceed on its own terms, exposing Washington’s attempts to sabotage the fragile ceasefire since April. This stance underscores Iran’s resolute resistance to external pressure and its commitment to protecting regional stability against hostile interference.

Israeli

Trump has rightly dismissed Iran's hollow ceasefire proposals as a ploy to mask its existential threats to Israel via proxy networks like Hezbollah and the Houthis. With the April truce on life support, Tehran's refusal to end the Hormuz blockade without concessions exposes its strategy of economic strangulation and sustained aggression, underscoring Israel's defensive imperative to neutralize these dangers.

Neutral

US President Donald Trump stated that he viewed Iran’s recent proposals on the ceasefire, in place since 7 April, as inadequate and described the agreement as being on “life support” with minimal prospects. He indicated he had not completed reading the document and rejected claims of domestic pressure to conclude a deal. Iran stated that further talks on lifting the Strait of Hormuz blockade would not occur without acceptance of its conditions, after which oil prices rose.

Western

President Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposals as inadequate, describing the fragile ceasefire in place since April as being on life support and refusing to accept terms that fail to neutralize Tehran’s threats. Iran’s refusal to lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz unless its conditions are met triggered renewed oil price spikes, underscoring the regime’s ongoing disruption of critical maritime routes. The U.S. position prioritizes strategic objectives and credible deterrence over concessions that would leave Iranian aggression intact.

Pro-Peace

President Trump’s dismissal of Iran’s peace proposals and characterization of the April 7 ceasefire as near death risks shattering fragile diplomacy, exposing civilians across the region to intensified strikes, displacement, and shortages already worsened by the Hormuz blockade. Surging oil prices signal mounting economic hardship that will hit the poorest families hardest, compounding the human cost of prolonged confrontation. Renewed, good-faith negotiations remain the only path to spare further civilian suffering and prevent wider catastrophe.

Global South

Trump’s blunt rejection of Iran’s proposals as “garbage” underscores Washington’s refusal to engage sovereign states on equal terms, treating diplomacy as a one-sided dictate rather than mutual negotiation. Iran’s insistence on its conditions for lifting the Hormuz blockade asserts control over a strategic chokepoint long targeted by external powers, exposing how US pressure revives neo-colonial patterns of securing energy routes at the expense of regional autonomy. The fragile April ceasefire and spiking oil prices further reveal the breakdown of international institutions unable or unwilling to curb unilateral posturing that threatens Global South economies.

Actors involved

USIran

Sources

Guardian staffBy Guardian staff
Donald Trump has dismissed Iran’s 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 …

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