United States President, Donald Trump, has rejected a proposal from Iran seeking to end the war and reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz within seven days.
Trump told reporters outside the White House on Saturday that he had turned down the roadmap submitted by Tehran, saying Iran was seeking an agreement because it was “losing so badly”.
“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine,” he said. “I’d like to make a deal, too. But that deal would not be acceptable.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, however, said Tehran had only received an initial reaction from Trump and was yet to get an official response through mediators.
Araghchi told Iranian news agency IRNA that Iran was waiting for mediators to communicate Washington’s “definitive” position before determining its next move.
“Only a negotiated solution can get them out of this deadlock. That is our position,” he added.
“Our conditions are clear,” Araghchi said.
“Any move toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz is contingent on these conditions being met.”
The Iranian government said it formally submitted the seven-day roadmap to the United States through Qatar.
Under the proposal, Washington would lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, remove sanctions on Iranian oil exports, release about $12bn in frozen Iranian assets and implement a regional ceasefire covering areas including Lebanon and Yemen.
“Iran has conveyed to the United States, through Qatar, a concrete seven-day plan. If the necessary conditions are met, the strait can be reopened, and normal maritime passage restored within seven days.”
Araghchi had made the statement on Friday while attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
He also said, “The choice now rests with the United States. Iran does not accept coercion, threats or intimidation, and Iran will not surrender its sovereign rights under pressure,”
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran had lost confidence in negotiations with Washington, citing previous talks that were followed by military attacks and sanctions.
“We have no trust in the American side and do not know on what basis an understanding can be reached with it,” Pezeshkian said.
He also denied that Iran was responsible for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that the United States had cut off routes to Iran first.
Pezeshkian said the crisis could be resolved through negotiations rather than military action and that the strategic waterway would be reopened to commercial shipping if an agreement to end the war was reached.
The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil shipments, has remained at the centre of the conflict between the United States and Iran, which has lasted nearly seven months despite renewed diplomatic efforts.
