Trump's White House Press Conference Summary: Iran's 10 Proposals Are Insufficient but Important; U.S. Should Charge Toll in Hormuz

On April 7, at midnight Beijing time, U.S. President Trump held a press conference at the White House. During the conference, Trump clearly outlined the consequences Iran would face if it failed to reach an agreement by his set deadline. Trump stated, ‘We must reach an agreement that I can accept, and part of that agreement will include: we demand that oil and all materials can pass freely.’ The U.S. military could destroy Iranian bridges and power plants within four hours. Although attacking civilian infrastructure is prohibited by the Geneva Conventions, Trump said he is ‘not at all’ concerned about committing war crimes. ‘The entire country can be obliterated overnight, and that night could be tomorrow night,’ he said at the White House press conference on Monday. He remarked that Tehran’s counter-proposal was ‘not good enough’ for a ceasefire, although he called it ‘an important step.’ Additionally, Trump proposed the idea of the U.S. charging fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz: ‘I would rather have the U.S. charge a toll in the Strait of Hormuz than let Iran do it.’ Regarding the details of the negotiations, Trump stated that Vice President Pence was involved in the dialogue, saying, ‘I can tell you, on the other side, we have a positive and willing negotiating party. They are negotiating, and we believe they are sincere—we will know soon.’ Trump threatened to imprison journalists who disclosed details of a daring U.S. military rescue of two pilots, accusing them of jeopardizing the mission. Finally, he lamented that he would like to seize Iran’s oil, but the American public wants to end the conflict before that.