Trump says Iran ceasefire on 'life support' after rejecting Tehran's response

President Donald Trump said on Monday (May 11) that the ceasefire with Iran was "on life support," after dismissing Tehran's response to a U.S. peace proposal as "stupid."

Trump's swift rejection of Iran's response on Sunday has fueled concerns that ​the 10-week-old conflict will drag on and continue to paralyse shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

"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 of the ceasefire. "It's on life support."

Days after Washington floated a proposal aimed at reopening negotiations, Iran on Sunday released a response focused on ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, where U.S. ally Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. The response had been swiftly rejected by Trump.

In its response, Tehran also demanded compensation for war damage, emphasised its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and called on the U.S. to end its naval blockade, guarantee no further attacks, lift sanctions and remove a ban on Iranian oil sales.

The U.S. had proposed an end to fighting before starting talks on more contentious issues, including Iran's nuclear programme.

-Kia Johnson/Reuters