Trump Rejects Iran's Strait of Hormuz Proposal Amid Escalation Fears

U.S. President Donald Trump publicly rejected an Iranian proposal aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and establishing a ceasefire, stating "They put a proposal on the table, but I rejected it." The announcement came as the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had informed his advisors of plans to resume attacks on Iran following the U.S. midterm elections in early November.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had announced that Tehran had presented a plan to the U.S. for opening the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, contingent on American approval. Zarif indicated that the clock would only start ticking once the U.S. accepted the plan, emphasizing that the required steps from Washington were not new and were already outlined in existing memorandums of understanding.

Zarif further claimed that if the U.S. accepted the seven-day plan, the Strait would be open by the end of that period, paving the way for renewed nuclear talks. He also addressed the nuclear program, calling the assertion that Iran is close to obtaining nuclear weapons a "big lie" originating from Israel in 2003 and perpetuated by the U.S. and European nations. Zarif asserted that Iran would not relinquish its sovereign rights under pressure.

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Zarif blamed the U.S. and Israel for the security situation, stating, "You cannot bomb a country, threaten its destruction, impose a naval blockade on it, and then expect security and freedom of navigation to return automatically." This exchange follows indirect talks held in New York between U.S. and Iranian envoys, facilitated by Qatari mediators, marking the first negotiations between the two nations in three months.