Trump: US military remains with Iran until 'real deal' is reached

US President Donald Trump said US forces would remain deployed "in and around Iran" until a "real deal" is reached.

The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran remains in question, largely due to what Washington described as a "misunderstanding" - whether or not it includes Israeli attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

“All U.S. ships, aircraft and military personnel, with ammunition, additional weapons and everything else appropriate and necessary for the pursuit and lethal destruction of an already significantly degraded enemy, will remain in place, in and around Iran, until the REAL DEAL reached is fully implemented,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform late on April 8.

The “misunderstanding” about Lebanon

The ceasefire faces serious uncertainty, as it is not clear whether the agreement also includes Israel's attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Hezbollah is an ally of Iran, while the US considers it a terrorist organization.

US Vice President JD Vance, during a visit to Hungary on April 8, said he believes there is a "legitimate misunderstanding" regarding the terms of the ceasefire, announced the night before by President Trump.

"I think the Iranians thought the ceasefire included Lebanon, but it just didn't," he said, adding that "neither we nor the Israelis said it would be part of the ceasefire."

"If Iran wants these negotiations to fail... because of Lebanon... that is ultimately its choice," he told reporters, adding that Israel is willing to refrain from its attacks on Lebanon.

White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt told reporters that Lebanon is not included in the terms of the ceasefire.

“This will continue to be discussed – I am sure – between the Israeli president and prime minister, [Benjamin] Netanyahu, the United States and Israel, and all parties involved,” she said.

A statement issued by Netanyahu's office also said that the ceasefire does not include Lebanon.

This was in contradiction to an earlier statement by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is acting as a mediator between the two sides.

"The death toll is rising"

The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced on April 8 that at least 250 people were killed within 24 hours by Israeli attacks, which occurred immediately after the ceasefire was announced.

Authorities said the death toll is expected to rise.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said that "the scale of killing and destruction in Lebanon today is simply appalling."

The Red Cross said it was "outraged by the deaths and destruction" across Lebanon.

Lebanon's Health Ministry said 1.739 people have been killed and 5.873 injured in Lebanon since the start of the Israel-Hezbollah war on March 2.

Iran's Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, claimed that three parts of Iran's 10-point proposal have been violated and added that, in such a situation, "bilateral ceasefire or negotiations are unreasonable."

In a post on X, Qalibaf claimed that the violations include attacks on Lebanon, the entry of a drone into Iranian airspace, and “denying Iran’s right to enrichment [of uranium].”

Qalibaf is reportedly expected to lead Tehran's delegation, along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, at Pakistan-mediated talks in Islamabad on April 11.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that a ceasefire in Lebanon is an essential condition of his country's agreement with Washington.

Washington and Tehran agreed on April 7 to a two-week ceasefire, to give both sides time to negotiate a peace deal.

Trump wrote on social media that he had received a 10-point proposal from Tehran and that the talks would be held behind closed doors.

He said that “only a set of meaningful ‘POINTS’” was acceptable to the United States, although he did not provide further details.

"These POINTS are the basis on which we agreed to a CRUISE," he said.

In addition to the dispute over Lebanon, the prospects for a lasting ceasefire are also shaken by uncertainty over freedom of maritime transport in the Strait of Hormuz.

Although he did not provide details about the Iranian proposal, Trump insisted that Tehran must allow free passage of ships through the strait - a key maritime corridor through which about 20 percent of the world's oil and gas passes.

Minimal traffic in Hormuz

According to data from maritime monitor Marine Traffic, four ships passed through the waterway on April 8.

"Early signs of ship activity are emerging in the Strait of Hormuz, following the announcement of a ceasefire, which includes the temporary reopening of the strategic waterway, to enable negotiations," the monitor wrote in a post on X.

He added that "hundreds of ships remain in the region, including 426 tankers, 34 LPG carriers and 19 LNG ships."

A senior Iranian official said that ships sailing through the strait, however, need permission from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to pass.

Reuters news agency and others reported that carriers were waiting for more clarification before resuming transit.

This waterway is essential for global oil and natural gas transportation and has been largely closed since the start of US and Israeli air strikes against Iran on February 28.

Tehran has retaliated by launching missiles and drones against Israel and the US's Arab allies in the region.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran told brokers that it would limit the number of ships passing through the strait per day and that it would collect fees for its permission.

Before the war, ships moved freely through the strait, without the need for coordination with Iran.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran is imposing tariffs on Chinese yuan — a move that, according to regional officials, threatens to reduce Western and allied influence in oil markets.