President Donald Trump declared Monday that a ceasefire arrangement with Iran is “on life support,” a day after rejecting the country’s proposal to end military hostilities.
Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, describing Iran’s latest proposal in sharp terms. “It’s unbelievably weak,” Trump said of the ceasefire agreement. “I would call it the weakest right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us.”
The president elaborated on his assessment by comparing the situation to a medical scenario. “It’s on life support,” Trump said, then turning to Dr. Mehmet Oz, who was present. “Dr. Oz, life support is not a good thing, do you agree?” Trump then described the ceasefire as being on “massive life support,” saying it resembled a scenario where “a doctor walks in and says, ‘Sir, your loved one has approximately a 1% chance of living.'”
Military Operations and ‘Project Freedom’
Trump indicated he is considering reviving “Project Freedom,” a U.S. military initiative focused on maintaining safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Under the revised plan, monitoring the strait would represent only one component of a broader military strategy, Trump said.
The president revealed that Iranian officials stated only the United States or China possessed the capability to retrieve what he described as “nuclear dust” from a heavily damaged site. “Iran told me very strongly they intend to give US the nuclear dust,” Trump said. “But you’re going to have to take it out, because the site was so obliterated that there’s only one or two countries in the world that could get it.”
Trump defended recent military actions and announced plans for additional aircraft acquisitions. “For those people that like to say that those great pilots in those great planes… knew we just ordered 22 more of them knew and improved, that those great pilots didn’t do their job. They did their job,” Trump said.
.@POTUS on the ceasefire in Iran: "After reading that piece of garbage they sent us… It's on life support." pic.twitter.com/MyfmPZeOmB
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 11, 2026
Nuclear Concerns and Diplomatic Backdrop
Trump stated his administration has a comprehensive approach to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. “Of course I have a plan – I have the best plan ever. And Iran has been defeated militarily, totally… I have a plan: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
Trump’s comments followed his rejection of Iran’s ceasefire proposal the previous day, which he called “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE” in a public statement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the fragility of the truce during a Friday briefing.
Rubio explained that continued skirmishes demonstrated Iran’s non-compliance with the accord. “What you saw yesterday was U.S. destroyers moving through international waters, being fired upon by the Iranians, and the U.S. responded defensively to protect itself,” Rubio said. “If you fire a drone or a missile at our destroyer, what are we supposed to do, let it hit? We have to respond to it.”
Ceasefire Status and Recent Developments
Trump announced last week that “Project Freedom” would be temporarily paused based on progress toward a potential agreement with Iran. In a statement on Truth Social, Trump cited military successes and diplomatic advancements as reasons for the temporary halt.
“Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran, and additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time,” Trump wrote.
This story has been updated. CNN’s staff contributed to this report.
