Russian media reported on April 26: "After canceling the trip of his negotiators to Pakistan, U.S. President Trump said the conditions proposed by Iranian authorities were insufficient for a deal between the two sides. Trump told reporters, 'They asked for a lot, but it's still not enough.'
The situation in Iran remains deadlocked. The United States continues its maximum pressure campaign; the U.S. Central Command announced that 37 naval vessels have been deployed to participate in the maritime blockade of Iran. In response, Iran stands firm—its president stated clearly that it will not enter negotiations under pressure, threats, or the condition of a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
This round of confrontation represents both sides testing each other's limits. Trump’s claim of 'insufficient' terms reflects a difficult position: he wants to force Iran to submit through military blockade, yet fears prolonged conflict could harm his re-election prospects. Canceling the trip serves as both a pressure tactic and a way to save face. However, Iran refuses to yield an inch, tying negotiation prerequisites to the lifting of the blockade, thus shifting the pressure back onto the U.S.
More than a month of blockade on the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a sharp rise in global oil prices, drawing widespread complaints from America's allies. Trump’s threat to abandon allies is now undermining his own credibility. Although Iran faces mounting pressure, it holds significant leverage through energy resources and its network of regional proxies, demonstrating strong resilience. As the ceasefire buffer period nears its end, if Trump persists with extreme pressure without tangible concessions, the risk of renewed and escalated conflict grows dramatically. The Middle East powder keg remains far from cooling down.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863501426921610/
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