US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he had rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end fighting in the Middle East. The proposal was raised by Iran at the UN General Assembly in New York and transmitted to the Americans via Qatari mediators. According to Trump, the proposal suggested reopening the strategic waterway and putting an end to hostilities in the region within seven days.
Trump expressed skepticism about the Iranian proposal, stating that they wanted to make a deal to open the Hormuz Strait immediately because they were "losing so badly." He claimed that the US was "winning tremendously" and that Iran wanted to make a deal because they had no money coming in due to the economic blockade imposed by the US. The blockade has drastically reduced shipping through the strait, which is a critical source of revenue for Iran.
The US has imposed an economic blockade on Iran to put pressure on Tehran to lift its blockade of Hormuz. Despite Trump's assertion that the US had control of the waterway, the blockade has had a significant impact on the global economy. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had rejected the Iranian proposal, citing unnamed US officials. According to the report, Trump was privately skeptical that Iran would meet his demands.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told reporters at the United Nations on Friday that the proposed deal would trigger a seven-day countdown to reopening the strait and a pause in regional fighting. He stated that if there was seriousness on the US side to come to a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, everything was now prepared. Araqchi added that if the US were to agree, the warring parties could start wider talks on mutually agreed subjects.
The Iranian proposal also included engagement with Saudi rivals regarding the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the stakes of a seven-month-old conflict that has disrupted oil flows through a critical shipping lane. The conflict has taken a toll on the global economy, with previous attempts at diplomacy failing to end the war. The war began on February 28 with US and Israeli attacks.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated in an interview with the CBS show "Face the Nation" that Tehran was ready for talks on its nuclear programme and other issues but would not accept "bullying or coercion." He added that Iran was not seeking war but would defend itself against pressure, threats, and attacks. Pezeshkian also stated that Iran had already agreed that it was not supposed to develop nuclear weapons.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran would show no flexibility over its nuclear programme even if the US accepted its peace deal. The official stated that Iran would grant no concessions over its rights, including enriching uranium or shipping its highly enriched uranium out of the country. The rejection of the Iranian proposal has raised concerns about the potential for further escalation in the region.
Key points
- US President Donald Trump rejects Iranian proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz and end fighting in Middle East
- Iran's proposal suggested reopening the strategic waterway and putting an end to hostilities in the region within seven days
- The US has imposed an economic blockade on Iran, which has drastically reduced shipping through the strait
