US President Donald Trump has rejected a proposal from Iran aimed at ending hostilities and reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz within seven days, adding further uncertainty to diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.
Trump told reporters on Saturday that he had rejected the Iranian proposal. His comments came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had submitted a concrete seven-day roadmap to the United States through Qatar, which has been acting as a mediator.
What was Iran’s proposal?
According to Iranian officials, Tehran’s plan was linked to several conditions, including a halt to hostilities across the region, the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports and the easing of restrictions on Iranian oil sales. Iran also sought the release of frozen assets and a resumption of negotiations over its nuclear programme.
In return, Iran said the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened to normal commercial shipping within seven days once the required conditions were met.
The proposal largely reflected conditions discussed in an earlier US-Iran understanding that collapsed after fighting resumed.
Trump rejects the plan
Trump publicly dismissed the proposal on Saturday, saying that Iran wanted a deal to reopen the strait but that the terms were unacceptable to him.
The US president’s rejection came after reports that Washington remained sceptical about whether Tehran would meet US demands. Trump also posted an image on his social media account showing the Strait of Hormuz labelled the “Trump Strait.”
Iran says it is still waiting for a formal response
Despite Trump’s public remarks, Iranian officials said they had not yet received a formal rejection through the mediators involved in the negotiations.
Foreign Minister Araghchi said Iran was waiting for the mediators to convey Washington’s definitive position before Tehran makes its next decision. Iranian officials have also maintained that they are prepared to continue diplomatic discussions, while saying they will not abandon their stated conditions.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has also said that Tehran remains open to negotiations but has expressed a lack of trust in the United States following previous rounds of talks and subsequent military action.
Hormuz remains central to the crisis
The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial global energy route, making the dispute over its reopening significant for international oil markets and commercial shipping.
Iran’s proposal came during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Iranian officials sought to revive diplomacy with Washington. Earlier this week, Iranian officials said the country could restore normal maritime traffic through the strait within a week if Washington eased military pressure and lifted its blockade.
For now, Trump’s rejection has left the proposed seven-day roadmap in doubt. Iran, however, has indicated that it is still awaiting an official response through diplomatic channels, leaving the possibility of further negotiations open.
