US President Donald Trump has refused to spell out what would constitute a breach of the fragile ceasefire with Iran. Instead, he warned, Washington would decide when the line had been crossed. Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, he said Tehran already understands the limits it must not test.
“Well, you’ll find out because I’ll let you know,” Trump said in order to keep pressure on Iran while avoiding a clear threshold that could trigger immediate escalation. “They know what to do, or what not to do more importantly.”
Earlier, during the Pentagon briefing, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, stated that Iran’s actions fall beneath the threshold that could cause them to resume the fighting even as the US Navy and Iran exchanged fire in the Gulf while competing for dominance in the Strait of Hormuz.
TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN ON MILITARY EDGE
Trump reinforced his long-standing claim that Iran’s military capabilities have been severely degraded by US operations. “So they’re looking around for little boats to try and compete with our great navy,” he said, adding that the US had already neutralised much of Iran’s maritime strength.
He repeated claims about US dominance in the conflict, insisting: “Iran has no chance. They never did.”
The US President also claimed that the Iranian leadership acknowledges its weakened position while projecting strength. “They know it. They express it to me when I talk to them and then they get on television and say how well they’re doing,” he said.
A central pillar of the US approach remains its naval blockade and control over key shipping routes in the Gulf. Trump said the blockade of Iranian ports is holding firm, and no Iranian vessel has successfully passed through. The US has framed its maritime operations as part of an effort to secure global shipping and counter Iranian interference in international waters.
NO ROOM FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Trump also returned to a familiar theme: preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. “We can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
“If we hadn’t engaged, we would’ve had an Iran with a nuclear weapon. Maybe we wouldn’t all be here right now,” he added.
Washington has so far pursued a dual-track strategy: keeping up military and economic pressure while leaving space for diplomacy. “They play games, but let me just tell you, they want to make a deal,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, Iran has shown no signs of stepping down from the blockade after Trump rejected the 14-point proposal to end the war. Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has accused the United States of breaching the ceasefire and undermining maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. “The continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America, while we are just getting started,” he said.
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