Donald Trump has rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt fighting in the Middle East, dismissing Tehran’s offer as a sign it was under mounting pressure.
Iran presented the initiative at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, saying it had been passed to the US through Qatari mediators. Under the proposal, the strategic waterway would reopen and hostilities across the region would end within seven days.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Saturday, Mr Trump said: “I reject their proposal. … I rejected their deal.”
He added: “They want to make a deal to open the Hormuz Strait immediately because they’re losing so badly. We’re winning tremendously.”
Mr Trump said Iran wanted the waterway reopened because it was losing revenue, while insisting that the United States remained in control of the strait.
The US has imposed an economic blockade on Iran in an effort to pressure Tehran into lifting its own blockade of Hormuz, which has sharply reduced shipping through the passage.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday that accepting the proposal would begin a seven-day countdown to reopening the strait and pausing the wider conflict. Broader negotiations could then begin on issues agreed by both sides, potentially including Iran’s nuclear programme.
“If there is seriousness on the US side to come to a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, everything is now prepared,” Mr Araqchi told reporters at the United Nations.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran was prepared to discuss its nuclear programme and other matters, but would not accept “bullying or coercion”.
“Iran is not seeking war, but will defend itself against pressure, threats and attacks,” he said, adding that Iran had already agreed it was “not supposed to develop nuclear weapons”.
A senior Iranian official said Tehran would not compromise on its rights, including enriching uranium or sending highly enriched uranium out of the country, even if Washington accepted the proposed agreement.
US officials had earlier described discussions with Iran through mediators as “positive and constructive”. However, Mr Trump was reported to doubt whether Tehran would meet his demands and to believe that renewed bombing could follow the November US midterm elections.
The seven-month-old conflict began with US and Israeli attacks on February 28 and has since moved between pauses and renewed strikes. Thousands have been killed, while Iran’s conventional forces and already weakened economy have suffered damage.
Iran and allied groups have retaliated across the region, including with drone and missile attacks on US allies in the Gulf. Its Houthi allies in Yemen have also targeted Saudi interests.
