US President Donald Trump has rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt regional hostilities within seven days, and has told aides that he expects the US bombing campaign to resume after the November midterm elections, according to a media report published on Friday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi had told reporters at the United Nations that Tehran has proposed a seven-day plan aimed at ending the conflict in West Asia. The proposal includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and initiating talks on Iran’s nuclear programme.
“If there is seriousness on the US side to reach a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, everything is now prepared,” Araghchi said, adding that Iran had conveyed its peace proposal to Washington through Qatari mediators.
“It would be better if a deal were reached before the US midterm elections,” he said.
There has been no official response from Washington to the proposal. However, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Trump remains privately skeptical that Iran will meet his demands. The report also said the US president had told his aides that he considered a renewed bombing campaign likely after the congressional elections.
Under Iran’s proposal, Tehran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and hostilities would cease on all fronts, including in Lebanon. In return, the United States would be required to lift its blockade of Iranian ports, release frozen Iranian funds and waive oil sanctions.
Meanwhile, Reuters, citing a US official, reported on Saturday that Washington and Tehran were engaged in “positive, constructive” discussions through mediators and continued to address issues related to Iran’s nuclear programme.
The proposal comes as the security situation in West Asia remains volatile, following the failure of earlier diplomatic efforts mediated by Qatar and Pakistan to end the conflict that began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched a joint strike against Iran that killed the country’s Supreme Leader.
The conflict subsequently expanded across the region, with Iran launching drone and missile attacks against US allies in the Gulf, while its Houthi allies in Yemen targeted Saudi interests.
