Shooting in more moderate manner: Trump’s new definition of truce amid Iran conflict

While interacting with reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump was asked how he would define a ceasefire just hours after fresh US-Iran military exchanges that marked one of the most significant escalations in recent weeks.

“Pretty much the way it is,” he said. “That’s a different part of the world. You know, I’d say in that part of the world, a ceasefire is when you’re shooting in a more moderate manner.”

On Wednesday, Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting Kuwait and Bahrain, including a strike on the Kuwait International Airport that killed an Indian national and injured at least 63 passengers and workers.

The attacks were in retaliation to US strikes on an Iranian military ground-control station on Qeshm Island and an oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz.

At the same press conference, the President was also asked if the ceasefire was still on, to which he responded, “there’s a reason for everything.”

“Well, you know, there’s a reason for everything… And we hit them pretty hard the night before, and actually last night. We’ve been hitting them pretty hard,” he added.

He also downplayed the significance of the latest attacks and said the situation had been brought under control quickly.

Despite the renewed violence, President Trump has rejected reports from Iranian state media claiming that Tehran had halted indirect negotiations with Washington over the conflict linked to Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

He maintained that communication channels between the two sides remained active, saying the talks were continuing without interruption.

FRAGILE CEASEFIRE TESTED REPEATEDLY

The latest round of US-Iran military exchanges has further strained an already fragile ceasefire, triggering fresh concerns in global energy markets and pushing oil prices up by nearly 2 per cent.

The renewed hostilities come as the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz remains largely shut more than three months after the conflict erupted on February 28.

Since then, Iran has carried out repeated missile and drone attacks across the Gulf region, where several US military installations are located.

Although a ceasefire was reached in early April, sporadic flare-ups have continued as Washington presses for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial maritime corridor that, before the conflict, handled about 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Last week, both Tehran and Washington indicated that they had made headway toward a preliminary agreement aimed at ending the conflict and restoring navigation through the strait.

However, no formal deal has been signed, with key issues still left for future negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Wednesday that channels of communication with the US remain open, but acknowledged that the talks had yet to produce any tangible breakthrough.

Speaking to Lebanese broadcaster Al Mayadeen, Araqchi said discussions were continuing despite the lack of progress.

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(With Reuters inputs)