Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the plan on Thursday from the United Nations General Assembly in New York, stating that the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened within a week “if the necessary conditions are met.” The proposal called for a full cessation of hostilities in the Middle East for seven days — including in Lebanon — after which Iran would reopen the strategic waterway on the seventh day.
“The choice now rests with the United States,” Araghchi said, adding that the plan was delivered through Qatari mediators.
However, The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, reported that Trump rejected the offer, expressing scepticism that Tehran would honour its commitments. The president expects a renewed bombing campaign to begin after the November midterm elections, according to the report.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Saturday, Trump said: “They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but…” He did not finish the sentence.
The president also posted an image on his Truth Social platform showing the Strait of Hormuz labelled “Trump Strait.”
The June memorandum of understanding signed in Pakistan calls for the release of frozen Iranian assets estimated at least $US12 billion, the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil, and an end to the US naval blockade of Iran. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian told CBS that “the process will begin from the very day they accept it.”
Hossein Mohebi, a spokesman for the Revolutionary Guard, was quoted by Tasnim news agency as saying: “We will not cease punishing the US until Iran’s seven conditions are met.”
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh came under attack from Houthi forces, according to reports.