President Donald Trump has rejected a proposed seven-day ceasefire with Iran and is expected to continue the US bombing campaign after the November midterm elections, according to a report.
The proposal would have required Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear negotiations. In return, the United States would have lifted its blockade of Iranian ports, which has been damaging Iran’s economy.
Trump is said to have decided against ending the maritime blockade, amid doubts within his administration that Tehran would meet his demands. A further bombing campaign is reportedly being considered.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the initial measures under the proposal would take four or five days to complete. The Strait of Hormuz would then reopen on the sixth day, with talks between Iran and the US resuming on the seventh.
About a fifth of the world’s traded oil passed through the narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman each day before the war with Iran.
Araghchi said a deal “would be much better if it is done before the midterm election”, but added: “But it depends on the US administration to decide. We are not in a hurry.”
Trump said earlier this week that he believed an agreement would be reached “right after the election because it doesn’t make sense for them not to.”
“They’re waiting to see how I do in the midterm election,” he said. “What they don’t realize is that I’m not running.”
In an address to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump warned that he might “annihilate” Iran if an agreement to end the war could not be reached.
“Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world?” he said.
“Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?”
Trump had previously said the US would not rush into an agreement because “time is on our side”. In a post in May, he wrote: “Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes!”
