Ceasefire Agreement "Hope Fading"? US and Iran Issue "Final Ultimatums": Trump "Only About 20 Hours Left," US Energy Strike May Be Ready!
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U.S.-Iran ceasefire negotiations deteriorated sharply before the deadline, with both sides issuing tough ultimatums simultaneously. Market alarms have sounded across the board, and international oil prices have surged above $110 per barrel.
According to Xinhua News Agency, as reported by The Wall Street Journal on April 6, mediators are pessimistic about Iran “yielding” before the deadline set by U.S. President Trump and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with hopes for a U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement “fading.” The report says some American officials stated, “U.S. and Iranian positions are too far apart and hard to reconcile before Trump’s deadline of 8 p.m. Eastern time on the 7th.”
Meanwhile, according to CCTV Morning News, on the 7th, Iranian Parliament Speaker's adviser Mehdi Mohammadi said on social media that Iran has clearly won the war and will only accept an endgame that consolidates its gains and establishes a new security order in the region. President Trump now has about 20 hours—to yield to Iran or see his allies pushed back to the Stone Age. “We will never back down!”
According to CCTV News, Trump took a hard line at a press conference on April 6, threatening to destroy all of Iran’s bridges and power plants before midnight on the 7th Eastern time, saying, “that night might be the night of April 7.” According to the latest U.S. media reports, two informed sources revealed that a joint U.S.-Israeli large-scale bombing plan against Iranian energy facilities is ready and awaiting Trump’s order.
With the Strait of Hormuz remaining closed, global energy markets continue to be under pressure. On the 7th, Brent crude oil futures rose 0.4% to $110.19 per barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures rose 2.8% to $115.31 per barrel. The Strait of Hormuz carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply, and its continued closure has sparked concerns about global inflation.
Bleak Outlook for Negotiations: Will Trump “TACO” Again?
According to reports, Iran has rejected the U.S. ceasefire proposal mediated by Pakistan. The proposal demanded that Iran immediately ceasefire and lift the actual blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, followed by broader peace talks within 15 to 20 days. Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported that Iran offered a 10-point counterproposal covering requirements such as ending regional conflict, establishing a safe navigation agreement for the Strait of Hormuz, lifting sanctions, and postwar reconstruction.
A U.S. official characterized Iran’s response as “maximalist demands,” but the White House reportedly sees it as a negotiating move rather than an outright rejection. Mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey have informed the White House they are consulting Iran on revision of terms and have cautioned that Iran’s decision-making process is relatively slow and the deadline may need extension. According to Arab officials familiar with the situation, Iranian officials have indicated to mediators that even if negotiations make progress, they still expect the U.S. to continue attacking Iran, and Israel will continue airstrikes to “eliminate” senior Iranian officials.
According to U.S. officials cited in reports, Trump is “less optimistic” in private about reaching an agreement and is expected to issue a final order for strikes on the evening of the 7th Eastern time, though his decision may change with developments.
A senior government official told the media:“If the president believes an agreement is near, he may delay. But only he can make that decision.” A Pentagon official said they “doubt” there will be any postponement this time.
Another American source close to Trump said:
“If Trump can get a deal, he’ll take it, but it’s not clear if Iran is ready. Until 8 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, the situation will be extremely tense.”
Tough Trump Statement, Internal Division Emerges
At the press conference, Trump detailed the strike plan: “We have a plan. Every bridge in Iran will be destroyed by midnight tomorrow. Every power plant will be shut down, burned, exploded, and never used again. The whole process takes only four hours.” He added he “doesn’t want this to happen” and said the negotiations are “going well,” with a “positive, willing, and sincere” counterpart on the other side.
According to media citing officials and sources familiar with the diplomatic process and Trump’s thinking, Trump may be the toughest on Iran in his inner circle. A U.S. official said that compared to Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio “sound like doves.” Trump has begun seeking advice from advisers and confidants, privately calling the plan to strike Iran’s power plants and bridges “Infrastructure Day.”
Internal divisions are emerging as well. Trump’s negotiation team—Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner—prefer to prioritize reaching an agreement, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi and UAE leaders, and Senator Lindsey Graham are urging Trump not to agree to a ceasefire unless Iran makes major concessions, such as reopening the Strait of Hormuz or giving up all highly enriched uranium—conditions currently almost impossible to achieve.
Iran Strikes Back Hard, Domestic Mobilization Escalates
According to CCTV report, Iranian Parliament Speaker’s adviser Mehdi Mohammadi on the 7th declared that Iran “has clearly won the war” and will only accept an endgame that consolidates its gains and establishes a new regional security system. Domestic resistance mobilization in Iran has also escalated.
Iran’s Deputy Sports Minister Alireza Rahimi called on artists and athletes to form human chains at power plants nationwide on the 7th; Iran’s top military command called Trump “delusional”; Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations characterized Trump’s strike threats as “direct incitement of terrorism and clear evidence of attempted war crimes under international law.”
Trump ignored these criticisms, denied that striking Iranian power plants constitutes a war crime, and said he is “not worried at all.”
Hormuz Blockade Continues, Oil Prices Volatile at High Levels
The Strait of Hormuz has become Iran’s most powerful bargaining chip. This key shipping route carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply, and Iran is clearly reluctant to give up this card. As the deadline approaches, oil prices remain high, with Brent crude futures at $110.19 a barrel and WTI crude at $113.31 a barrel.
On the regional security front, Saudi Arabia on the 7th intercepted ballistic missiles heading to its eastern region, with debris falling near energy facilities. Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Bahrain simultaneously issued public safety alerts. The Israeli military stated that it had completed a new round of airstrikes on Iranian government infrastructure in Tehran and elsewhere, and had activated air defense systems to intercept missiles from Iran.
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