Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that his country will wait for an official response from US negotiators after President Donald Trump rejected a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on Telegram, Araghchi acknowledged Trump's rejection, but accused the president of previously making contradictory statements. This development comes after Trump told reporters at the White House that Tehran's proposal was not "acceptable".
According to Araghchi, 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. Iran had raised the issue of reopening the strait and ending hostilities during negotiations on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which around a fifth of the world's gas and oil supply usually flows, has been effectively closed since the outbreak of war in February. Trump stated that the US already had "total control" of the strait, with "massive amounts of oil" passing through it. He added that he was rejecting Iran's deal because it was not acceptable.
Araghchi responded to Trump's statements, saying that the president "has made many good statements, as well as many contradictory ones". He added that Iran is waiting for mediators to convey the definitive views to them, and they will make a decision based on them. Oman, which has been acting as a mediator between the US and Iran, called for all parties to continue having open dialogue to resolve the crisis.
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. Trump's rejection of Iran's proposal was backed by the US ambassador to Nato, Matthew Whitaker. Whitaker stated that Iran had offered "half measures" and "illusory deals to make themselves look good on the world stage".
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Saturday 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".
The effectiveness of the latest sanctions remains to be seen, as it depends on the reaction from Iran's major trading partners, including China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil. China has ignored previous US sanctions and continued to do business with Tehran. Iran's president has stated that his country will never "bend the knee" to US pressure, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the situation.
Key points
- Iran will wait for an official US response after President Donald Trump rejected a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
- The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since the outbreak of war in February, causing concerns about the global oil supply.
- The Trump administration's economic blockade on Iran, dubbed "Operation Economic Outcast", is taking a toll on Tehran.
