Trump Won't Break Iran Ceasefire Unless US Troops Are Killed: WSJ
President Donald Trump has told aides that he will not break the ceasefire with Iran or resume full-scale military operations unless American troops are killed, according to a report Wednesday in The Wall Street Journal.
The administration continues to pursue a broader agreement with Tehran despite signs the ceasefire remains fragile.
Trump has publicly suggested a deal could be near, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said this week there has been “no tangible progress” toward a final agreement.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meanwhile, argued Wednesday that “the war is over” and said the administration’s focus is now on securing a lasting settlement.
According to the Journal, Trump has resisted pressure to respond to recent Iranian attacks with a broader military campaign, instead viewing the current ceasefire as the best opportunity to secure a diplomatic outcome and avoid a prolonged conflict in the Middle East.
The newspaper reported that the president remains focused on reaching an agreement that would prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon while reducing tensions in the region and protecting navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
Trump has repeatedly voiced optimism about the prospects for a deal.
Speaking this week, the president suggested negotiations were moving in the right direction and indicated that only a limited number of issues remained unresolved before an agreement could be reached.
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