U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, in the latest setback to diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
Trump told reporters on Saturday that he had rejected the Iranian proposal, arguing that Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was under severe economic pressure.
Iran Offered a Seven-Day Roadmap
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had transmitted a concrete proposal to the United States through Qatari mediators during diplomatic contacts surrounding the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Under the proposal, Iran would reopen the strategic waterway and restore normal maritime traffic within seven days, while the two sides would work toward a broader cessation of hostilities and renewed negotiations.
Iran's proposal reportedly included several conditions, including the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, the easing of sanctions on Iranian oil exports, the release of frozen Iranian assets and a ceasefire extending across the region, including Lebanon.
Hormuz at the Center of the Crisis
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most strategically important maritime passages. Under normal circumstances, a significant share of global oil and gas shipments passes through the waterway.
The conflict has sharply reduced commercial traffic through the strait and disrupted international energy markets. The possibility of restoring normal navigation has therefore become a central element of the diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States.
Iran has argued that reopening the waterway could form part of a broader diplomatic process. Washington, however, has rejected the conditions attached to Tehran's proposal.
Trump: “I Reject Their Proposal”
Speaking before departing Washington, Trump said Iran wanted to reach an agreement because it was suffering economically.
The president said the United States was in a strong position and suggested that Tehran's motivation was linked to the pressure created by the restrictions on shipping and Iranian oil revenues.
Trump also posted an image on his social-media platform depicting the Strait of Hormuz with the label “Trump Strait,” signaling his uncompromising position regarding the strategic waterway.
Diplomatic Window Remains Uncertain
The rejection comes after several days of indirect U.S.-Iranian contacts conducted through intermediaries.
U.S. officials had described some of the recent diplomatic discussions as constructive, while Iran said it remained prepared to negotiate. But major disagreements remain, particularly over sanctions, the status of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program.
The latest development leaves the future of the diplomatic track uncertain and raises concerns that the confrontation could return to a military phase if no agreement is reached.
The Key Issue
For Washington, the dispute is no longer only about the reopening of a vital shipping lane. It is also tied to the broader terms of any agreement with Tehran, including Iran's nuclear activities, sanctions and the military balance in the region.
For Iran, reopening Hormuz is being presented as part of a wider package that would end hostilities and restore economic access.
For now, the two positions remain far apart, with the fate of the Strait of Hormuz at the center of the confrontation.
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