Tuesday 12 / May / 2026
US President Donald Trump said that a ceasefire with Iran was "on life support" after rejecting Tehran's latest response to a US peace proposal as "totally unaaceptable."
When asked about the status of the ceasefire on Monday, Trump told reporters: "I would call it the weakest right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us. I didn't even finish reading it."
"The ceasefire is on massive life support, where the doctor walks in and says, 'Sir, your loved one has approximately a one percent chance of living,'" the US president said.
In its response, released on Sunday, Tehran called for an end to the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, demanded compensation for war damage and emphasized its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran also called on the US to end its naval blockade, guarantee that there would be no further attacks, lift sanctions, and remove the ban on Iranian oil sales.
Washington had proposed an end to the fighting as a precursor to negotiations on more contentious issues, including Iran's nuclear program.
Iran says it is ready 'to teach a lesson' if attacked
After US President Donald Trump warned that the ceasefire in the Middle East was "on life support," Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said that his country's military was ready to "teach a lesson" to any aggressor.
"Our armed forces are ready to respond and to teach a lesson for any aggression," Qalibaf said on X.
"A bad strategy and bad decisions always lead to bad results. The world already understands this," he added.
In another post several hours later, Qalibaf said there was "no alternative" but for Washington to accept Iran's 14-point peace proposal.
"Any other approach will be completely inconclusive; nothing but one failure after another," he wrote.
"The longer they drag their feet, the more American taxpayers will pay for it."
Donald Trump's rejection of Iran's proposals has fueled concerns that hostilities with Iran may resume, further destabilizing global energy markets already in chaos due to the war.
US imposes new sanctions on Iran for oil shipments to China
The US has ramped up pressure on Iran's economy with more sanctions.
On Monday, the US Treasury announced that it was imposing sanctions on three individuals and nine companies, including four firms based in Hong Kong and four in the United Arab Emirates. The ninth company is based in Oman.
They are accused of enabling the sale and shipment of Iranian oil to China on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
According to a statement by the US Treasury, the IRGC has been using shell companies to "obfuscate its role in oil sales and funnel revenue to the Iranian regime."
This announcement comes just days before the planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, where Trump is expected to urge the Chinese leader to help resolve the standoff with Iran and reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz.
China and Iran are close economic partners, with China being seen as the primary purchaser of Iranian oil.
On Friday, the US administration imposed sanctions on individuals and companies — including those in China — accused of procuring weapons and components for Iran's drone and missile programs.
