Iran is waiting for an official response from US negotiators after President Donald Trump rejected a proposal to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the statement on Telegram, acknowledging Trump's rejection. Araghchi accused Trump of making contradictory statements in the past. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway through which around a fifth of the world's gas and oil supply usually flows.
Trump told reporters at the White House that Tehran's proposal was not "acceptable" and that they wanted to make a deal to open the strait immediately. He claimed that Iran was "losing so badly" and that the US already had "total control" of the strait. The strait has been effectively closed since the outbreak of war in February. Iran had raised reopening the strait and ending hostilities during negotiations on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Araghchi said that an agreement could be reached if "necessary conditions are met" between the two countries. He stated that the conditions to open the strait were the same as those included in a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran signed in June. Oman has been acting as a mediator between the US and Iran, and its foreign minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, called for open dialogue to resolve the crisis.
Trump's rejection of Iran's proposal was backed by the US ambassador to Nato, Matthew Whitaker. Whitaker said that Iran had offered "half measures" and "illusory deals to make themselves look good on the world stage". He added that President Trump had the right to reject the proposal. The Trump administration has been using sanctions to pressure Tehran to stop attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that economic pressure from the US was taking a toll on Tehran. He stated that Turkey, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates had halted flights from various Iranian airlines, and some banks in the UAE and Turkey had stopped transactions with Iran. The Trump administration has dubbed an economic blockade on Iran as "Operation Economic Outcast".
Some economists have questioned whether the latest sanctions will be effective, as this depends on the reaction from Iran's major trading partners. China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, has ignored previous US sanctions and continued to do business with Tehran. The effectiveness of the sanctions remains to be seen.
Oman's foreign minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, told the UN General Debate that "all parties" should cooperate with Oman in efforts to safeguard navigation in the strategic waterway. Araghchi wrote on Telegram that Trump "has made many good statements, as well as many contradictory ones". Iran is waiting for the mediators to convey the definitive views to them.
Key points
- Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Trump of making contradictory statements.
- The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway through which around a fifth of the world's gas and oil supply usually flows.
- The Trump administration has dubbed an economic blockade on Iran as "Operation Economic Outcast".
