Trump Rejects Proposal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
Goldlaner.com – President Donald Trump rejects proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, dismissing Iran’s latest offer as unacceptable while leaving open the possibility of negotiations on different terms. The exchange has added fresh uncertainty around a vital global shipping route.
Iran said it was prepared to restore passage through the strait and resume talks with Washington if the United States accepted conditions Tehran says were included in a memorandum of understanding signed in June. That arrangement collapsed shortly afterward when fighting resumed.
Speaking Saturday, Trump said Iran’s proposal did not meet US requirements. He argued that Tehran was seeking an immediate reopening because it faced growing pressure, though he also said he remained willing to pursue a deal.
“I reject their proposal,” Trump said when reporters asked about Iran’s plan.
“They want to make a deal where they open the strait immediately because they’re losing so badly,” he added. “They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal too, but that deal would not be acceptable.”
Iran awaits a formal US response
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had noted Trump’s comments but would wait for a definitive position sent through mediators before deciding on its next move. He said reopening the waterway remains dependent on Washington accepting Iran’s conditions.
“We will not back down from them,” Araghchi said.
Araghchi discussed the proposal during a visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. He said the process could begin once the United States accepted the plan, allowing normal maritime traffic to resume within seven days if the required conditions were met.
“If the necessary conditions are met, the strait can be reopened, a normal maritime passage restored within seven days. The choice now rests with the United States,” Araghchi told reporters.
The Iranian foreign minister did not publicly list Tehran’s demands in detail. He said they did not go beyond provisions in the June US-Iran memorandum, including sanctions relief, the release of frozen Iranian assets and an end to military operations, including operations in Lebanon.
Why the Strait of Hormuz remains central
The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Indian Ocean. Its status matters to commercial shipping and to countries whose trade depends on access to Gulf waters.
Trump rejects proposal to reopen the strait at a moment when the two governments remain divided over whether maritime access can be separated from broader disputes. Tehran has tied a return to normal navigation to political and security commitments, while Washington has stressed its own position in the waterway.
Araghchi said Iran could not be expected to guarantee navigation while facing military pressure, threats and coercive measures.
“You cannot bomb a country, threaten its annihilation, impose a maritime blockade, and coercive measures, and expect automatic restoration of security and navigation,” Araghchi said.
A White House official previously described indirect discussions as positive and constructive, while emphasizing that the United States was not under pressure to act quickly.
“The United States is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz, so we are not in a rush,” the official said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said that any agreement would likely require sustained negotiations rather than a rapid breakthrough.
“If there’s going to be a deal with Iran … it’s going to involve a lot of hard work over a period of time,” Rubio said.
Frequently asked questions
What did Trump reject? Trump rejects proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under conditions put forward by Iran. He said the proposed arrangement would not be acceptable to the United States.
What does Iran want before reopening the strait? Iran says Washington must accept conditions connected to the June memorandum, including sanctions relief, the release of frozen Iranian assets and a halt to military operations.
When could shipping resume? Araghchi said normal maritime passage could return within seven days if Iran’s conditions are met and the plan is accepted.
Are US-Iran talks over? No final US response has been announced. Iran says it is awaiting a definitive message through mediators, while US officials have indicated that any agreement could take time.