Trump rejects Iran's proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Tehran is awaiting an official response through mediators and maintains its conditions. United States President Donald Trump has rejected a plan submitted by Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, as Tehran insists that diplomacy is the only solution to the conflict between the two countries. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump stated that Iran seeks to make a deal to open the vital maritime corridor immediately because they are 'losing so badly.' He expressed willingness to negotiate but indicated that the proposed deal would not be acceptable. The proposal by Iran, announced on Friday at the United Nations General Assembly, calls for the U.S. to release frozen Iranian funds, lift oil sanctions, and end its naval blockade on Iranian ports. Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, noted that these steps could be completed within four or five days, allowing negotiations on a final agreement to begin by the seventh day. In response to Trump's rejection, Araghchi stated on his Telegram channel that Iran stands by its conditions and is waiting for definitive opinions from the mediators. He emphasized that only a negotiated solution can resolve the deadlock. U.S. officials had indicated on Friday that Trump would reject the proposal, with reports suggesting he is skeptical that Tehran would meet his demands. Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna reported that the Iranian proposal appears 'dead in the water,' while Trump has not offered an alternative. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil supplies, was closed by Iran shortly after the U.S. and Israel launched their war on February 28. Iranian attacks on vessels in the waterway have significantly curtailed shipping. The U.S. has responded with an economic blockade on Iran and threats of secondary sanctions against businesses dealing with Iranian airlines, leading to flight cancellations by the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Oman. Earlier in the week, Araghchi met with Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy, to discuss conditions for ending the war, which would also include lifting the naval blockade and establishing a regional ceasefire covering Lebanon and Yemen. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed distrust in negotiations with Washington, citing previous talks that were followed by military strikes and new sanctions. He stated that the waterway would reopen to commercial shipping if negotiations succeed in ending the war. Ross Harrison, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, remarked that Iran’s proposal was primarily a gesture of goodwill to demonstrate a willingness to negotiate, which is significant for both their domestic audience and the American public. He noted that Iran's leaders likely anticipated Trump's rejection, as the proposal closely mirrored a previous memorandum of understanding that Tehran believes Washington undermined.