Speaking at the White House on Friday, the US president said a recent conversation with Iran had taken place but he was unhappy with the proposed deal.
His remarks signalled frustration with stalled ceasefire negotiations while stopping short of threatening to scrap the fragile truce or order new US airstrikes.
The comments leave diplomacy alive but uncertain, with the ceasefire still brittle as talks continue without a breakthrough.
With both sides rejecting each other's terms, what would it actually take to break the US-Iran deadlock and achieve lasting peace in the Gulf?
Given the disputed legality under US and international law, could continued US military action without congressional approval backfire diplomatically?
How might the ongoing blockade and high oil prices reshape global energy markets if the Strait of Hormuz remains contested?