Trump Rejects Iran Ceasefire Offer, Calls Truce on Life Support

President Donald Trump departed Washington on Tuesday for a high-stakes state visit to China even as the ceasefire with Iran shows signs of unraveling and oil prices climb on renewed fears of prolonged supply disruptions. The trip comes after Trump publicly dismissed Tehran's latest response to his peace proposal as a "piece of garbage" and declared the truce "on massive life support."

Trump has insisted that U.S. forces achieved a decisive military victory in the seven-week conflict, yet Iranian attacks persist in the region and the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to commercial traffic. Tehran has demanded an end to the U.S. naval blockade, compensation for war damage and recognition of its sovereignty over the vital waterway through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas passes. Washington has rejected those terms outright, leaving negotiators with little room to maneuver.

The impasse has already begun to affect energy markets. Brent crude futures rose nearly 2 percent on Tuesday to above $106 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate climbed to more than $100. Analysts warned that without a breakthrough by the end of May, prices could spike further, with some forecasts pointing to $115 or higher if tensions escalate.

Trump's decision to proceed with the China visit despite the turmoil underscores the administration's desire to maintain at least the appearance of diplomatic momentum elsewhere. Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to host the meetings, which will include elaborate ceremonies and discussions on trade. Yet the bilateral relationship is strained by accusations that Beijing has provided economic and material support to both Iran and Russia. U.S. officials say China has funneled revenue to those governments and supplied dual-use goods and components that could aid their military efforts. In recent days Washington imposed new sanctions targeting those links, a move expected to feature prominently in the talks.

From Beijing's perspective, the conflict fits a familiar pattern of American overreach. Chinese officials have privately noted that U.S. forces have already expended nearly half of certain high-end munitions stockpiles while failing to secure core objectives, including reopening the strait. The depletion of systems such as THAAD and Patriot batteries has raised concerns inside the Pentagon about readiness for other contingencies.

Trump has portrayed the Iran operation as a swift success that avoided the quagmires of Iraq and Afghanistan. Iranian leaders, however, continue to signal readiness to respond forcefully to any renewed aggression, with parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warning that Washington would be "surprised" by Tehran's capabilities. Inside Iran, economic conditions have deteriorated sharply under the combined weight of sanctions, war damage and currency collapse, fueling public hardship and prompting calls for national unity from the country's leadership.

The White House maintains that Trump faces no pressure to accept a suboptimal deal and will only settle for what it describes as complete victory. Yet the absence of a clear diplomatic off-ramp, coupled with China's willingness to host the president while shielding Iran from sanctions, illustrates how the conflict has complicated broader U.S. strategic goals. With oil markets already reacting and military resources stretched, the coming days in Beijing will test whether Trump can extract concessions from Xi without conceding ground on Iran.