Trump Rejects Iran’s Conditional Seven-Day Ceasefire Proposal

President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and move toward a ceasefire within seven days, while U.S.-Iranian discussions continued through mediators.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi presented the initiative during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Tehran said it could reopen the waterway and resume talks with Washington if the United States halted what Iran calls acts of aggression, ended its naval blockade and economic pressure, and released Iranian assets. Araghchi said the strait would remain closed until the conditions were met.

“They made a proposal but I rejected it,” Trump told reporters Saturday. He said Iran wanted an agreement because it was losing financially, while indicating he remained open to negotiating on different terms.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Sunday that the proposal was rejected because Iran sought sanctions relief and other concessions “up front.” A U.S. official said Washington and Tehran were nevertheless holding positive, constructive indirect discussions, including on nuclear issues.

The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed U.S. officials, reported that Trump expects U.S. bombing of Iran to resume after the November midterm elections because he doubts Tehran will accept American demands. CNBC said it could not independently confirm that report.

Iran has maintained that diplomacy is the only solution to its conflict with the United States and Israel. Araghchi said a preliminary agreement on the strait could lead to broader negotiations, but another senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran would not show flexibility over its nuclear program.