Iran has put forward a concrete plan to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a crucial chokepoint for global oil supplies, saying it could be achieved within seven days if conditions are met. However, reports emerged swiftly indicating that U.S. President Donald Trump rejected the proposal, casting doubt on the latest mediation efforts at the United Nations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the proposal on Friday, stating that Tehran had conveyed a detailed seven-day plan to the United States via Qatar. "If the necessary conditions are met, the strait can be reopened, and normal maritime passage restored within seven days," Araghchi told reporters at the UN gathering in New York. He stressed that Iran "does not accept coercion, threats, or intimidation, and Iran will not surrender its sovereign rights under pressure." The comment placed the ball squarely in Washington's court, highlighting the ongoing stalemate that has persisted for nearly seven months.
But the hope for progress seemed to evaporate quickly. The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials, reported that President Trump had rejected Iran's offer almost immediately after it was presented. The report suggested the 80-year-old president is skeptical that Tehran would comply with his demands and anticipates a renewed bombing campaign is likely. Trump, known for his direct communication style, later posted an image on his Truth Social platform: a map of the Strait of Hormuz circled and prominently labeled "Trump Strait."
Details of Iran's proposed seven-day plan reportedly include a cessation of all hostilities across the Middle East, including in Lebanon. Furthermore, Tehran is seeking the release of frozen Iranian assets, estimated to be worth at least $12 billion, the lifting of sanctions on its oil exports, and an end to the U.S. naval blockade. On the seventh day of a hypothetical truce, Iran would then reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking to CBS, indicated that the ceasefire process would commence from the moment of acceptance. He referenced a previous agreement based on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Pakistan, suggesting that a return to pre-conflict conditions was possible if the United States agreed to that framework. The Revolutionary Guards, through spokesman Hossein Mohebi, also confirmed to AFP that ending hostilities in Yemen was a key demand for Tehran in these negotiations.
This isn't the first attempt at a deal. In June, the U.S. and Iran signed an MOU aiming to end the conflict, reopen the strait, and initiate talks on Iran's nuclear program. That agreement faltered when Iran reportedly fired on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing them of deviating from designated routes. Iran maintains a policy requiring ships to seek authorization before passage, citing security and sovereignty concerns. Vessels that don't comply are frequently targeted, leading to sporadic retaliatory U.S. airstrikes on Iranian coastal areas, a cycle of action and reaction that has defined the conflict in the vital waterway.