US President Donald Trump has reportedly rejected Iran’s proposal for a seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, hours after Tehran said it had presented the offer to Washington through Qatar.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the proposal on Friday at the United Nations, saying the strategic waterway could be reopened and normal maritime traffic restored within seven days if certain conditions were met.
“Iran has conveyed to the United States, through Qatar, a concrete seven-day plan,” Araghchi said.
“The choice now rests with the United States. Iran does not accept coercion, threats, or intimidation, and Iran will not surrender its sovereign rights under pressure.”
However, The Wall Street Journal later reported that Trump had rejected the proposal, citing US officials familiar with the matter. Other reports also cited the same account.
The reports said Trump was doubtful that Tehran would meet his demands and expected the US military campaign against Iran to resume after the November midterm elections.
Trump also shared a map of the Strait of Hormuz on his Truth Social platform, labelling the waterway “Trump Strait”.
What Iran wants
Reports on Tehran’s proposal said Iran was seeking a seven-day halt to hostilities across the Middle East, including in Lebanon.
The proposal also reportedly calls for the release of at least $12bn in frozen Iranian assets, the lifting of US sanctions on Iranian oil exports and an end to the US naval blockade of Iran.
Under the plan, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz on the seventh day if the conditions were met.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told CBS that the ceasefire process would begin once Washington accepted the proposal.
“We had previously reached an agreement based on the MOU that was signed in Pakistan… if the United States agrees to proceed in that way, everything will return to the way it was before,” Pezeshkian said.
Revolutionary Guards spokesman Hossein Mohebi also told AFP that ending hostilities in Yemen was among Iran’s demands.
The latest proposal follows an earlier memorandum of understanding signed by Iran and the US in June, which was intended to end the conflict, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and pave the way for talks on Iran’s nuclear programme.
The agreement later broke down after Iran fired on commercial vessels in the strait, accusing them of failing to follow its approved route.
Iran requires vessels to obtain permission before passing through the waterway, citing security and sovereignty concerns.
The US has also carried out strikes on Iranian coastal areas during the conflict.
The Strait of Hormuz is a major route for global energy supplies, and its continued disruption has raised concerns over oil markets and the impact on countries dependent on energy imports.
CNN.
