Iran Maintains Conditions for Reopening Strait of Hormuz Following Trump's Rejection

Iranian officials stated that while they were aware of President Donald Trump's comments rejecting a new proposal, they had not received a formal message of rejection regarding the plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. On Sunday, Iran reiterated its conditions for reopening the strategic waterway, despite Trump's public dismissal of the proposal, which had raised hopes for a resolution. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized, 'Our conditions are clear, and any move toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz is contingent upon these conditions being fulfilled. We will not back down from them.' He added, 'We have never closed the door to diplomacy or negotiations, but at the same time, we have never backed down from our rights.' Iran had proposed a seven-day plan aimed at reopening the Strait during the UN General Assembly in New York, claiming it could end hostilities in the region within days. The proposal was transmitted to Washington through Qatari mediators. Araghchi noted that the plan included a cessation of hostilities in the Middle East, including Lebanon, and required the fulfillment of conditions from a previously failed ceasefire deal, which included the release of frozen Iranian assets, lifting sanctions on Iranian oil, and an end to the US naval blockade. Trump publicly rejected the proposal on Saturday, stating, 'I reject their proposal ... I rejected their deal. They want to make a deal where they open the Strait immediately because they're losing so badly.' In response, Araghchi remarked that while they noted Trump's reaction, no definitive positions had been communicated by the mediators. Currently, Iranian ports are under a US blockade as Washington seeks to pressure Tehran regarding the Strait's closure. The Strait of Hormuz remains largely shut to international shipping, despite claims from Trump that the US controls it. Early Sunday, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), established by Iran to manage the Strait, warned ships of consequences for using 'illegal routes' in the region, stating that such actions could lead to financial and safety risks for vessels and restrict future passage through the Strait. Before the conflict, approximately a fifth of global oil demand passed through the Strait of Hormuz, which is also a vital route for liquefied natural gas and fertilizer.