United States President Donald Trump on Saturday, September 26, rejected a truce proposal submitted by Iran aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz to maritime shipping within seven days.
The strategic shipping lane, vital to global energy supplies, remains central to the ongoing conflict between Washington and Tehran, which has reached a stalemate after nearly seven months.
“I reject their proposal,” Trump told reporters outside the White House. “They made a proposal, but I’ve rejected it. They want to make a deal where they open the Strait immediately because they’re losing so badly. They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal too.”
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking during his return to Tehran following the United Nations General Assembly in New York, stated that the proposal was developed in coordination with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
According to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who held indirect talks earlier in the week with US envoy Steve Witkoff, the proposed framework required an immediate halt to all Middle East hostilities, including in Lebanon.
The plan reiterated terms from an earlier memorandum of understanding signed between both nations, demanding the release of an estimated $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets, the removal of sanctions on Iranian crude oil, and an end to the US naval blockade.
Under the terms, Iran pledged to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz on the seventh day of the truce. President Pezeshkian noted that implementation would commence immediately upon US acceptance.
Reactions to the crisis were prominent during UN proceedings in New York. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan, criticized international inaction over the disruption of critical maritime corridors.
“The kingdom rejects any party’s use of these vital passages as a tool for pressure, threat, or harm to the interests of states,” bin Farhan said, emphasizing the waterway’s critical role in global energy security.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Moscow stands ready to contribute constructively toward stabilizing the region. Meanwhile, President Pezeshkian held talks with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, reiterating that while Tehran remains open to diplomatic channels, it lacks trust in Washington following previous diplomatic breakdowns.
Foreign Minister Araghchi confirmed that the proposal was formally transmitted to Washington through Qatari intermediaries.
“The choice now rests with the United States,” Araghchi said. “Iran does not accept coercion, threats, or intimidation, and Iran will not surrender its sovereign rights under pressure.”
Following the rejection, reports indicate President Trump remains skeptical that Iran will meet US demands and anticipates a resumption of military operations. Trump also published an image on his Truth Social platform featuring a map of the Strait of Hormuz designated as “Trump Strait”.
In response to the developments, Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson Hossein Mohebi affirmed Tehran’s stance, stating that military pressure would continue until all seven of Iran’s conditions are fulfilled.
