US President Donald Trump has rejected a proposal from Iran seeking a seven-day arrangement to de-escalate the conflict, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing US officials.
The report has added uncertainty to diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing the conflict in West Asia to an end. Trump has reportedly told aides that US bombing of Iran could resume after the November midterm elections.
The reported position comes days after Trump used his address to the United Nations General Assembly to present Iran with a choice between reaching an agreement and facing further military action.
“I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world. Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic, and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?” Trump said during his September 22 address.
He also said he believed an agreement could be reached “right after the election”, arguing that there would be little reason for Tehran not to reach a deal.
Iran proposes seven-day roadmap
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that Tehran had sent Washington a proposal through intermediaries aimed at ending the fighting and restarting diplomatic negotiations.
Under the proposal, Iran would reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz within seven days if Washington met a set of conditions, including easing military pressure and other measures related to sanctions and the conflict. The plan also calls for negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme to resume.
“We have introduced a plan to the United States through the intermediators that if certain conditions are met, the Strait of Hormuz would be open on the end of the seventh day and talks would restart,” Araghchi said.
The Iranian foreign minister indicated that the proposal was based on elements of a memorandum of understanding reached between Washington and Tehran in June. Tehran has argued that the earlier understanding provides a framework that could be revived and implemented on a faster timeline.
Strait of Hormuz remains key issue
The proposal places the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of the diplomatic effort. The waterway is a major route for global energy shipments, making its reopening significant for oil markets and international trade.
Iran has said the strait could return to normal maritime traffic within seven days if the required conditions are fulfilled. Araghchi has maintained that Tehran is prepared to pursue diplomacy over its nuclear programme while seeking an end to military operations against Iran.
Iranian officials have also sought to link the reopening of the waterway with wider regional de-escalation, including a ceasefire covering Lebanon.
Tehran says Washington must make the next move
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has blamed Washington for the collapse of the earlier diplomatic understanding, saying Tehran remains willing to pursue negotiations.
The Iranian government has maintained that it wants diplomacy to address the nuclear issue, but has demanded concrete steps from the US before restarting the process.
A senior Iranian official previously said Tehran had submitted its proposal through mediators and was prepared to reopen negotiations if Washington showed a willingness to reduce military pressure.
With the reported US rejection of the seven-day proposal, uncertainty now surrounds the next phase of the conflict. The disagreement over sanctions, military operations, the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear programme remains at the centre of the diplomatic deadlock.
Source/Credit: The Wall Street Journal report, as cited by multiple reports; Iran’s proposal and Abbas Araghchi’s remarks were also reported by international media including Reuters and Al Jazeera.
