Trump Dismisses Iran's Proposal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz as Tehran Awaits Formal Response

US President Donald Trump on Saturday rejected Iran's latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, dismissing the offer as "unacceptable." Iranian diplomat Abbas Araghchi had announced earlier in the week that Tehran submitted a fresh proposal to the United States aimed at reopening the critical waterway and resuming negotiations in exchange for the US fulfilling several long-standing demands.

While the Iranian foreign minister did not detail the exact conditions, he stated they mirrored those included in the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding signed in June, which subsequently collapsed amid renewed fighting. That initial agreement involved provisions regarding sanctions relief, the release of frozen assets, and a cessation of military operations, including in Lebanon.

Speaking to reporters, Trump firmly rejected the plan. "I reject their proposal," the US president said. "They want to make a deal where they open the strait immediately because they’re losing so badly. They want a make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal too, but that deal would not be acceptable."

Araghchi stated on Telegram on Saturday that Iran acknowledged Trump's public reaction but awaits an official US response delivered through mediators before deciding its next steps. Araghchi emphasized that reopening the Strait of Hormuz remains strictly contingent on Iran’s conditions being met, adding, "We will not back down from them."

Araghchi noted during a visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly that the proposal would take effect immediately upon US acceptance, allowing normal maritime passage to be restored within seven days. However, a White House official maintained that the United States is in a strong position controlling the Strait of Hormuz and is "not in a rush." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio similarly remarked that any future deal with Iran will require extensive work over time.