Shooting in more moderate manner: Trump's definition of ceasefire amid conflict
As concerns are mounting over the stability of a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran despite continued exchanges of fire, President Donald Trump offered
As concerns are mounting over the stability of a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran despite continued exchanges of fire, President Donald Trump offered an unusual definition of a truce. While interacting with reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump was asked how he would define a ceasefire just hours after fresh US-Iran military exchanges that marked one of the most significant escalations in recent weeks. Read Full Story "Pretty much the way it is," he said. "That's a different part of the world. You know, I'd say in that part of the world, a ceasefire is when you're shooting in a more moderate manner." Reporter: How do you define ceasefire? Trump: In that part of the world, ceasefire is when you're shooting in a more moderate manner pic.twitter.com/wXdr2EraDC— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) June 3, 2026 On Wednesday, Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting Kuwait and Bahrain, including a strike on the Kuwait International Airport that killed an Indian national and injured at least 63 passengers and workers.
The attacks were in retaliation to US strikes on an Iranian military ground-control station on Qeshm Island and an oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz. At the same press conference, the President was also asked if the ceasefire was still on, to which he responded, "there's a reason for everything." "Well, you know, there's a reason for everything... And we hit them pretty hard the night before, and actually last night. We've been hitting them pretty hard," he added. Trump on Iran attacking Kuwait There is a reason for everything, and we hit them pretty hard... They were slightly provoked; they were reciprocating. pic.twitter.com/VvIgyJHb3m— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 3, 2026 He also downplayed the significance of the latest attacks and said the situation had been brought under control quickly. Despite the renewed violence, President Trump has rejected reports from Iranian state media claiming that Tehran had halted indirect negotiations with Washington over the conflict linked to Israel's military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
He maintained that communication channels between the two sides remained active, saying the talks were continuing without interruption. FRAGILE CEASEFIRE TESTED REPEATEDLY The latest round of US-Iran military exchanges has further strained an already fragile ceasefire, triggering fresh concerns in global energy markets and pushing oil prices up by nearly 2 per cent. The renewed hostilities come as the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz remains largely shut more than three months after the conflict erupted on February 28. Since then, Iran has carried out repeated missile and drone attacks across the Gulf region, where several US military installations are located. Although a ceasefire was reached in early April, sporadic flare-ups have continued as Washington presses for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial maritime corridor that, before the conflict, handled about 20 per cent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
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