IRIA News

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U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, after Tehran offered to restore normal maritime traffic in exchange for a ceasefire, sanctions relief, and the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.

Trump said Saturday that Iran’s proposal was not acceptable, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that the waterway could reopen within seven days if the necessary conditions were met.

Speaking to reporters at the White House before boarding Marine One, Trump said, “I’m rejecting their deal.” “They want to make a deal where they open the Strait immediately because they’re losing so badly,” he added.

Trump said Iran wanted an agreement with Washington but that the proposal did not meet U.S. requirements. “They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” he said.

Iranian officials, however, said on Sunday that it was still awaiting a formal United States response through mediators.

The rejection came a day after Araghchi outlined Iran’s proposal during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. “If the necessary conditions are met, the strait can be reopened, a normal maritime passage restored within seven days. The choice now rests with the United States,” Araghchi said.

He said the conditions were based on a memorandum of understanding signed between Iran and the U.S. in June. “The actions that the US needs to take are not new. All of them were previously outlined in the memorandum of understanding,” Araghchi said.

Reporter: Will you strike Iran after the midterms?

Trump: I'm rejecting their deal. They want to make a deal where they open the Strait immediately because they're losing so badly.

They want to make a deal, and I think that's fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would… pic.twitter.com/87rKbDySLN

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The Iranian foreign minister said, “If the American side is serious about reaching an agreement and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, everything is now ready,” he added.

Under the proposal, Iran would reopen the waterway after the U.S. lifted its naval blockade of Iranian ports, ended sanctions affecting Iranian oil sales, and observed a ceasefire that would also include Lebanon.

Strait of Hormuz Reopening Proposal

Araghchi said the seven-day timetable would begin once Washington accepted the proposal. He said the initial steps would take about four to five days, with the Strait of Hormuz reopening on the sixth day. Talks on a wider nuclear agreement would then begin on the seventh day.

“On the seventh day, negotiations with the US will begin to reach a final agreement on issues agreed upon by both sides,” Araghchi said.

Iran’s proposal closely follows the June memorandum of understanding, although the new plan would move much faster. The June agreement had provided 60 days for the two sides to reach a final agreement.

The earlier memorandum included provisions related to sanctions relief, the release of frozen Iranian assets and an end to military operations, including in Lebanon. It also included commitments concerning Iran’s nuclear program.

Araghchi said it would be better if an agreement were reached before the U.S. midterm elections in November. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also said Friday that Tehran would honor its commitments if Washington accepted the seven-day proposal.

US Says Talks are Continuing

Despite Trump’s rejection of the proposal, U.S. officials have said diplomatic discussions with Iran are continuing through mediators.

A U.S. official familiar with the talks said the discussions were “positive and constructive” but indicated that Washington was not prepared to rush into an agreement.

Another U.S. official told Reuters that discussions were continuing, including talks on nuclear issues. A White House official previously said the United States was in a strong position regarding the Strait of Hormuz and was therefore “not in a rush.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said earlier this week that any agreement with Iran would require “a lot of hard work over a period of time.”

The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials, reported Friday that Trump had rejected a proposal for a seven-day ceasefire and reopening of the Strait.

Trump had reportedly told aides that renewed military action against Iran could follow the November midterm elections. The report also said Trump’s position could change in the coming weeks.

Hormuz Remains at Center of Conflict

The Strait of Hormuz has been a central point of the conflict between Iran and the United States since fighting began in late February.

The waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a major route for global energy shipments. Around one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply normally passes through the strait.

The conflict has sharply reduced maritime traffic. Shipping data cited by Reuters showed a recent 10-day average of about 18 vessel transits per day, with some days recording as few as nine.

The reduced traffic has contributed to major fluctuations in energy prices and increased pressure on governments and energy markets.

Iran has said that normal navigation cannot be restored without an agreement covering the wider conflict. “You cannot bomb a country, threaten its annihilation, impose a maritime blockade, and coercive measures, and expect automatic restoration of security and navigation,” Araghchi said.

He also said, “Peace cannot be built through threats of annihilation.” Trump, meanwhile, has said the United States has control of the Strait and has claimed that oil is still moving through the waterway.

Diplomatic Push Continues

Pezeshkian has continued to signal that Iran is prepared to negotiate despite the ongoing conflict. During his address to the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, he said Iran was not afraid of continuing the war but remained open to diplomacy.

On Friday, Pezeshkian hosted Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Qatar has played a role as a mediator between Washington and Tehran.

Pezeshkian also said Iran’s foreign policy decisions are discussed by a six-member group representing different state institutions, including the security forces, parliament and government bodies.

However, diplomatic efforts have faced criticism from hardliners inside Iran. Ebrahim Rezaei, a member of Iran’s Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, criticized the Foreign Ministry’s contacts with Washington.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is an executor, not a policymaker,” Rezaei wrote on X. He questioned the authorization for Araghchi’s meeting with representatives of the United States and said Iran’s conditions had already been communicated to Washington.

The criticism highlights divisions within Iran over how far Tehran should pursue negotiations while military operations continue.

Wider Regional Pressure

The situation around Hormuz is also connected to wider security risks affecting energy shipments across the region.

Houthi attacks on Saudi oil facilities have added pressure on regional energy infrastructure and shipping routes. The Iran-aligned group has intensified attacks affecting Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea, on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula from the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi authorities have also reported intercepting ballistic missiles and drones launched toward the country. The combination of disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea has increased concerns over the security of major energy and maritime routes.

For now, Iran’s seven-day proposal has been rejected by Trump, while both sides continue to signal that diplomatic contacts through mediators remain open. The main disagreement remains over the conditions for ending military operations, restoring maritime traffic, and restarting wider negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.