Trump Considers Ceasefire, But Only If Strait of Hormuz Passes His Pop Quiz

Photo by Hartono Creative Studio on Unsplash

KEY POINTS

•President Trump claimed Iran requested a ceasefire but linked it to reopening the Strait of Hormuz on March 29.
•Iran's foreign ministry quickly denied direct negotiations, while China and Pakistan proposed a similar peace plan earlier this week.
•Trump plans a 9pm ET national address, with Israel urging continued pressure while some White House members seek peaceful off-ramps.

In a dazzling display of diplomacy spotted on Truth Social, President Trump announced that Iran's 'New Regime President' Masoud Pezeshkian, who's been president since before the war started and definitely hasn't taken any script rewrites, supposedly asked the U.S. for a ceasefire—if, and only if, the Strait of Hormuz reopens and is 'free, clear, and open,' because who doesn’t like geographic conditions on their peace deals? Meanwhile, Iran firmly denied any direct talks, calling Trump's excitement 'false and baseless.' China and Pakistan tried to DJ a peace initiative on March 28, but U.S. advisers are still deciding whether to press play or mute. With the U.S. promising to keep 'blasting Iran into oblivion or back to the Stone Ages,' talk about #MixedMessages! Trump doubles down by scheduling a 9pm ET address to officially press the 'maybe, or maybe not' button on ending a complex Middle Eastern conflict, while Israel and Saudi Arabia cheer him on and parts of the White House nervously eye the exit ramp.