Trump doesn’t want to talk about whether the ceasefire with Iran is over

As the war in Iran got underway, Donald Trump’s strategy for the conflict was, among other things, shrouded in mysteries that shouldn’t have existed. Americans were left in the dark about why the United States went to war, whether the combat operations actually constituted a war, whether the war was legal, how much the war would cost, how long the war would last, and whether the administration had a credible plan to achieve its vague objectives.

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Two months later, the White House’s policy is still shrouded in mysteries that shouldn’t exist, but the list is evolving.

For example, as this week got underway, Iran reportedly mounted a missile and drone attack on commercial ships that U.S. forces were protecting in the Strait of Hormuz, while also targeting American warships. Soon after, the U.S. military said it sank six Iranian boats. Does that mean the ceasefire is over? As MS NOW reported in its live blog, the American president didn’t want to talk about it on Monday:

Trump declined to say whether the fragile ceasefire with Iran remains in effect, offering little clarity as tensions continue to escalate in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

Asked by Hewitt if the ceasefire was over, Trump replied, “Well, I can’t tell you that.”

So, on the one hand, we saw U.S. and Iran forces trading shots, while Trump threatened anew to blow Iran “off the face of the Earth.” On the other hand, the American president who claims to have “terminated” combat operations would prefer not to tell the public whether the ceasefire remains intact or not.

There are secrets surrounding any war, but this need not be one of them.

Complicating matters further, Trump’s team tried to shed additional light on the question the president didn’t want to answer, though it didn’t exactly bring any real clarity. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a Tuesday morning press conference, for example, that the U.S.-Iran ceasefire is “not over,” despite Monday’s violence, in large part because he considers U.S. efforts in the Strait of Hormuz to be “separate and distinct” from the war that began on Feb. 28, instead of a continuation of the conflict.