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Trump says Iran ceasefire ‘on life support’ after rejecting Tehran’s counterproposal

Trump says Iran ceasefire ‘on life support’ after rejecting Tehran’s counterproposal

President Donald Trump on Monday said that what remains of the U.S. ceasefire with Iran is “on life support” after Tehran sent an “unacceptable” counter to Washington’s proposal to end the war. The state of the month-old truce is “unbelievably weak,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “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 testy ceasefire began on April 8, on the heels of Trump threatening to destroy Iran’s “whole civilization” if no deal was struck. It was originally slated to last just two weeks, but Trump unilaterally extended it on April 21. The ceasefire has been on shaky ground from its earliest days, as each side has accused the other of violating its terms. Trump, in announcing the truce on April 7, said …

Trump faces calls for removal over threats to wipe out Iran civilization

Trump faces calls for removal over threats to wipe out Iran civilization

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., speaks to the media outside the U.S. Capitol after the House of Representatives voted to pass President Donald Trump’s sweeping spending and tax bill, in Washington, July 3, 2025. Ken Cedeno | Reuters The reticence expressed by Democrats about removing President Donald Trump from office — even after he ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and attacked Iran without seeking congressional approval — quickly fell away after his latest threat to Iran. The president’s Tuesday morning Truth Social post, which threatened “a whole civilization will die tonight” and raised the specter of nuclear war, began a chorus of calls either for Trump’s impeachment or for his removal via the invocation of the 25th Amendment. On Tuesday evening, Trump and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire. “This is a threat of genocide and merits removal from office. The President’s mental faculties are collapsing and cannot be trusted,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., posted to X on Tuesday. “To every individual in the President’s chain of command: You have a duty to refuse illegal orders. …

Trump-Iran agree to two-week ceasefire, plan to open Strait of Hormuz

Trump-Iran agree to two-week ceasefire, plan to open Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump pauses as he finishes speaking about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon | Getty Images President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he agreed to suspend planned attacks on Iranian infrastructure for two weeks, backing off his shocking threats to imminently order the destruction of Iran’s “whole civilization.” The move, more than five weeks after the U.S. and Israel launched the war, was “subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz,” he wrote on Truth Social. The decision was “based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan,” Trump wrote. “This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!” he declared. Oil prices plunged as much as 16% following the announcement, while U.S. stock futures shot up. Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a separate statement that ships will be able to safely pass through the strait for the two-week interval “via …

Trump threatens Iran’s infrastructure as reports emerge of downed U.S. F-35

Trump threatens Iran’s infrastructure as reports emerge of downed U.S. F-35

Significant sections of the B1 Bridge are seen destroyed after an airstrike attributed to the United States and Israel targeted the site near Tehran, in Karaj, Iran, on April 03, 2026. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to destroy Iran’s bridges and power plants, saying the “New Regime leadership knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST!” in a Truth Social post. Trump did not elaborate on what needed to be “done,” but said the U.S. “hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran.” Hours later, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reportedly claimed that a U.S. F-35 fighter jet was shot down over central Iran. Images of debris posted on Telegram included a photo that appeared to show the words “U.S. Air Forces in Europe” on what looked like a plane’s tail section. The U.S. Central Command, which oversees the region, and Iranian authorities did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication. Read more U.S.-Iran war news Trump’s latest threat …

Could U.S. attack Iran’s Kharg Island as it sends more troops?

Could U.S. attack Iran’s Kharg Island as it sends more troops?

A satellite view of Qeshm Island in Hormozgan Province, Iran, within the Strait of Hormuz region on January 17, 2026. Gallo Images | Gallo Images | Getty Images The U.S. is preparing to send thousands more troops to the Middle East, prompting speculation about a ground attack on Iran amid conflicting accounts of peace talks. The Pentagon is reportedly preparing to send about 3,000 troops from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, alongside two Marine Expeditionary Units, to assist military operations in Iran. Military experts said that the number of additional troops being deployed to the region appears to be consistent with plans for discrete and time-limited operations — rather than a sustained ground campaign. It puts two strategic Iranian islands in the spotlight and raises questions about a potential move to seize the Islamic Republic’s nuclear materials. “All announcements regarding troop deployments will come from the Department of War. As we have said, President Trump always has all military options at his disposal,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told CNBC in …

Iranian negotiators ‘better get serious soon, before it is too late’

Iranian negotiators ‘better get serious soon, before it is too late’

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a ceremony for newly sworn in U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin in the Oval Office at the White House on March 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump has told Iran to “get serious soon” about a peace deal with Washington, or face the consequences. “They better get serious soon, before it is too late, because once that happens, there is NO TURNING BACK, and it won’t be pretty!” he posted on Truth Social early Thursday. The president described Iranian negotiators as “very different” and “strange” and said they were “begging” the U.S. to make a deal to end the war that has raged for almost four weeks. Trump’s comments come after contradictory statements from Washington and Tehran regarding the status of peace talks. The U.S. has said talks over a proposed peace plan have been taking place, while Iran denies any direct interaction with Washington. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly told state media on Wednesday that officials …

War puts the Gulf’s once‑packed conference calendar on hold

War puts the Gulf’s once‑packed conference calendar on hold

Before the Middle East war, the Gulf had positioned itself to become one of the world’s busiest hubs for conferences, exhibitions, and high‑level events. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have each worked hard to be seen as the crossroads for business, politics and innovation, hosting global sporting events from Formula 1 to high-stakes boxing championships and top-tier golf tournaments. The Gulf has also welcomed global CEOs, home to major business gatherings like the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Web Summit in Doha and Abu Dhabi Finance Week. A delegate arrives at the King Abdulaziz Conference Centre in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh to attend the Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum. Fayez Nureldine | Afp | Getty Images Now, as war grounds flights and threatens to destabilize the region’s carefully built future, events from cultural to crypto have been quietly rescheduled. Several high‑profile gatherings across the Middle East scheduled from March to May are being postponed, rescheduled or placed under review as organizers assess the impact of the current regional conflict, underscoring how geopolitical …