US President Donald Trump has rejected a proposal from Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping within seven days as part of a plan to end hostilities in the Middle East. The proposal was presented by Iran during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. Trump confirmed the rejection on Saturday, telling reporters outside the White House that he had rejected the proposal.
The proposal required the United States to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, ease sanctions on Iranian oil, and observe a ceasefire covering the wider Middle East, including Lebanon. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the plan had been conveyed to Washington through Qatar and was based on conditions contained in an earlier memorandum of understanding between the two countries.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who was returning to Tehran after attending the UN General Assembly, said the proposal had been developed "in coordination" with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Pezeshkian said the process would begin immediately after the United States accepted the proposal. He also met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York, according to his office.
At the United Nations, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan criticised what he described as the failure of the international community to ensure the continued opening of the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab. He stressed the waterways' importance to global energy security. Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, also told member states that Russia was ready to contribute to stabilizing the region.
Araghchi said Iran had given Washington a specific timeline for reopening the waterway. He said Iran had conveyed to the United States, through Qatar, a concrete seven-day plan. If the necessary conditions were met, the strait could be reopened, and normal maritime passage restored within seven days. The choice now rests with the United States, he added.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was sceptical about Tehran meeting his demands and expected the US bombing campaign to resume. Trump also posted an image on his Truth Social platform showing the Strait of Hormuz circled and labelled "Trump Strait". Meanwhile, Hossein Mohebi, a spokesman for Iran's Revolutionary Guards, said Iran would not cease punishing the US until Iran's seven conditions were met.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a key international shipping route and a major artery for global energy supplies. The dispute over its reopening has become a central issue in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between Washington and Tehran.
Key points
- US President Donald Trump rejected Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days.
- The proposal required the US to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports and ease sanctions on Iranian oil.
- The Strait of Hormuz is a key international shipping route and a major artery for global energy supplies.
