Trump’s Conflicting Statements Sow Confusion on Iran Ceasefire

First responders and residents gather at the site of an airstrike in Beirut on April 8.Photographer: Fadel Itani/AFP/Getty Images

President Donald Trump’s declaration of a two-week ceasefire in the war against Iran has soothed global markets. But a series of conflicting statements — and actions — since the announcement suggests fundamental differences remain, making the truce even more fragile.

Trump unleashed a flurry of social media posts starting in the early hours of Wednesday regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear material, tariffs, sanctions and the negotiating parameters of a long-term peace deal. Several of his messages contained dubious or incomplete claims.