President Donald Trump on Saturday rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days and resume nuclear negotiations, as Iran’s president departed New York following the U.N. General Assembly and Saudi Arabia reported intercepting another missile launched from neighboring Yemen.
The developments came as the United States and Iran continued indirect contacts through mediators despite the widening economic and military pressures surrounding the conflict.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that Tehran had offered to reopen the strategic waterway and resume talks on its nuclear program if the United States lifted its naval blockade of Iranian ports, waived sanctions on Iranian oil sales and agreed to a ceasefire that would include Lebanon, according to The Associated Press.
Trump rejected the proposal Saturday, telling reporters outside the White House that Iran wanted an agreement because it was “losing so badly.”
“They want to make a deal and I think that’s fine,” Trump said. “I’d like to make a deal, too. But that deal would not be acceptable.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global shipping route for oil and other commodities. Iran effectively closed the waterway after the United States and Israel attacked the Islamic Republic in late February, and shipping traffic has fallen significantly amid Iranian threats and attacks on vessels, The Associated Press wrote.
Trump also reiterated his position on Iran’s nuclear program in a post on his Truth Social account, writing: “IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!!! President DJT.”
The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that Trump has rejected the seven-day ceasefire proposal and, citing U.S. officials, said the president has told aides he expects the U.S. bombing of Iran to resume after the November midterm elections. The officials said Trump’s position could change as the conflict develops. The Journal reported that U.S. and Iranian officials continue to negotiate through regional mediators, including on the nuclear issue. It said Qatar and other Arab mediators have worked to revive diplomacy around the U.N. General Assembly.
The White House said Friday that U.S. officials were engaged in “positive and constructive” conversations with mediators. Iran and the United States also held hours of indirect talks earlier in the week, the AP reported.
Pezeshkian leaves New York
Iranian semi-official media reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian had left New York for Tehran after attending the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders. In his address to the General Assembly, Pezeshkian pushed back against Trump’s threat to “annihilate” the Islamic Republic but concluded by saying Tehran remained open to diplomacy. Araghchi said Iran’s proposed arrangement would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart nuclear negotiations after seven days if Washington lifted its maritime blockade, eased sanctions on Iranian oil exports and observed a ceasefire extending to Lebanon.
The diplomatic exchanges have taken place against the backdrop of sharply competing demands. Trump has said Iran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, while Iranian officials have sought relief from sanctions and the U.S. blockade as part of any agreement.
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