Trump Rejects Iranian Proposal on Strait of Hormuz

President Trump signaled his disapproval regarding Iran’s recent plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to reporters as he left the White House, Trump emphasized that the proposal was “not acceptable” without elaborating further. “I like making a deal too,” he remarked, “But, I’m not — that deal would not be acceptable.” He stated that Iran’s willingness to make a deal stemmed from their poor standing in the situation.

The proposal was introduced during the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared details of the plan, which suggest resuming bilateral negotiations and reopening the strait. Iran had initially closed it following an attack by the U.S. and Israel on February 28. This closure has severely affected global oil supplies.

“If the necessary conditions are met, the strait can be reopened and normal maritime passage restored within seven days,” Araghchi announced, emphasizing that the decision now lies with the United States.

The Iranian plan mirrors a “memorandum of understanding” from June between the U.S. and Iran. It intended to pause hostilities and initiate ceasefire dialogues. This agreement provided Iran with relief from a U.S. naval blockade, easing sanctions and releasing frozen Iranian funds. Iran pledged not to pursue nuclear weapons and to reopen the strait. However, disagreements over ambiguous wording, especially regarding control of the strait, led to its collapse, and hostilities swiftly resumed.

Araghchi reiterated that actions required from the U.S. are outlined in the prior MoU. He argued these steps are within the U.S.’s commitments, suggesting no hurdles to implementation.

In a prerecorded CBS interview, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed willingness to honor Iran’s commitments if the U.S. shows good faith and avoids overthrowing Iranian governance. Pezeshkian stated, “If the United States agrees to proceed in that way, everything will return to the way it was before.” He indicated that mutual steps to unblock the current stalemate could lead to further discussions.

Pezeshkian added that Iran would permit entry for U.N. nuclear inspectors if the U.S. accepts the offer to reopen the strait and resumes nuclear talks.