Trump won't end Iran ceasefire unless US troops killed: Report

US President Donald Trump has privately informed his senior aides that he will not terminate the ceasefire with Iran unless Tehran kills American troops, indicating a willingness to tolerate smaller military flare-ups for weeks or months to avoid a broader Middle East conflict, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed US officials.

The president's stance suggests he might withstand intermittent hostilities for an extended period to prevent a wider war, the report said. Trump has repeatedly emphasized his proximity to securing a comprehensive end-of-war agreement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and dismantle Iran's nuclear program.

Missile Exchanges Resume

Washington and Tehran exchanged some of their most intense hostilities since the ceasefire took effect in early April, with Iran launching missiles and drones targeting US military installations across the region as well as Kuwait International Airport. The strikes resulted in one confirmed fatality and marked a significant escalation in the ongoing dispute over control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz — a vital chokepoint for global energy shipments.

Tehran has restricted commercial transit through the waterway while Washington has enforced a stringent blockade on Iranian ports, severely disrupting global energy markets and international shipping lanes. The reciprocal attacks have ratcheted up pressure on the Trump administration and cast doubt over the long-term viability of the truce.

Washington's Defense

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the recent strikes as defensive measures rather than a return to full-scale conflict during a House hearing on Wednesday. "They are happening in response to an Iranian action," Rubio said, adding that Washington would not engage if Tehran ceased its attacks on shipping.

"If they don't shoot at those ships, we don't shoot, but we have to respond," Rubio told lawmakers, according to the Journal. His comments underscore the administration's effort to frame its military actions as reactive while maintaining pressure on Tehran to de-escalate.

Nuclear Negotiations Stall

Trump has repeatedly stated that he is very close to signing an end-of-war agreement that would reopen the strait, dismantle Iran's nuclear work and eliminate the country's stockpile of enriched uranium. The prospective deal represents a cornerstone of his second-term foreign policy agenda, though diplomatic progress has stalled amid the recent violence.