Trump's 'Big Day for World Peace' Descends into Chaos as Iran Ceasefire Falters
Former US President Donald Trump hailed a "big day for World Peace" after announcing a two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, a declaration made just hours after he threatened to wipe out "a whole civilisation." Trump stated he had received a 10-point proposal from Iran, which he described as "a workable basis on which to negotiate," leading to a temporary halt in hostilities.
Ceasefire on the Verge of Collapse Amid Confusion and Disagreements
However, within a day, the shaky ceasefire appeared on the verge of collapse, plagued by major disagreements over the terms of any potential deal. Trump himself warned of "bigger, and better, and stronger" strikes as Israel continued its intense bombardment of Lebanon, raising questions about the truce's scope and durability.
According to the New York Times, some of Trump's key advisers remain deeply sceptical that a deal will hold. Vice President JD Vance publicly branded the arrangement a "shaky truce," revealing that Iran had submitted three different versions of its 10-point plan. Vance claimed the first version was "probably written by ChatGPT" and was immediately discarded by Trump's team, led by advisors Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
"There was a second 10-point proposal that was much more reasonable," Vance explained, stating it resulted from back-channel discussions involving the US, Pakistan, and Iran. He identified this as the plan Trump referenced. A third, more "maximalist" proposal, he said, was discovered through social media.
Conflicting Interpretations and Continued Violence
The deal was struck late on Tuesday following a Trump-imposed deadline, with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth claiming the Islamic Republic "begged" for a pause. Both sides claimed military triumph, but disagreements erupted immediately. Trump referred to a 15-point plan, while the White House added to the confusion by suggesting the discussed framework was not the official one received.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated one Iranian proposal "was literally thrown in the garbage by President Trump and his negotiating team." On Wednesday, Trump asserted Iran had agreed to hand over its enriched uranium and cease future enrichment, a claim directly contradicted by Iran's published 10-point plan, which explicitly demands the right to enrich uranium.
A critical dispute centres on whether the ceasefire includes Lebanon. The US and Israel claim it does not, justifying Israel's ongoing major ground and air invasion. In contrast, Iran and mediator Pakistan insist the peace plan mandates a "complete cessation of war" in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Iran. On Wednesday, Israel intensified its bombing campaign over Lebanon, killing 182 people in some of the war's heaviest strikes yet, prompting the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to promise a "regret-inducing response."
Iran's Demands and Regional Escalation
Iran's state-published 10-point plan, disseminated by the Tasnim news agency, includes demands for US acceptance of Tehran's control over the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of all sanctions, compensation payments, and a full US troop withdrawal from the region. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that if attacks halt, Iran's forces would cease defensive operations and allow safe passage through the Strait for two weeks.
However, Iran simultaneously halted oil tankers in the Strait and launched a drone strike on a critical Saudi oil pipeline on Wednesday, linking the maritime blockade to "Israel's attacks on Lebanon." The regime also threatened to destroy any tankers attempting unauthorised passage, imposing tolls of up to $2 million per vessel.
This prompted Trump to issue a renewed warning of "bigger, and better and stronger" attacks if a deal fails. In a Truth Social post, he declared US military assets would remain in the region "until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT is fully complied with."
Domestic Backlash and a Rocky Path Forward
Trump faces fierce backlash from his own supporters, who fear the ceasefire concedes too much to Tehran. Republican Representative Don Bacon expressed skepticism, arguing negotiations should be from "a position of strength" and that "total victory has not been earned" while Iran's government remains.
Amid the criticism, the White House walked back Trump's initial characterisation of the 10-point plan as a "workable basis," with an official claiming the released points did not match what Trump had in mind. Trump later seemed to contradict his own team, stating most points had "been fully negotiated" while leaving the door open to resuming strikes if the deal collapses, as the ceasefire begins with a profoundly rocky start.
