Trump rejects Iran's proposal regarding Hormuz, and Tehran is awaiting Washington's final position through mediators

Trump rejects Iran's proposal regarding Hormuz, and Tehran is awaiting Washington's final position through mediators

Published 26 September 2026, 08:06 GMT

Last updated 2 minutes ago

Reading time: 7 minutes

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that Tehran is waiting for the final American position to be reached through mediators regarding its proposal to stop the fighting and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, after US President Donald Trump rejected the proposal and described it as “unacceptable.”

Araqchi explained, in statements he made on Sunday, that his country had seen Trump's initial reaction, but had not yet received any response through the mediators, adding that it would make its decision based on the position they would convey to it.

He stressed that only a negotiated solution is capable of getting the parties out of the impasse, and that any step towards reopening the Strait of Hormuz is conditional on meeting Tehran's demands, which he described as clear.

On Saturday, Trump rejected the Iranian proposal for a seven-day ceasefire, saying that Tehran was suffering great losses as a result of closing the strait, and declaring that the United States had complete control over it.

He said that Iran wants to conclude an agreement, but described the proposal as “unacceptable,” adding that his country had imposed “the largest blockade in military history” and a “wall of steel” around the Strait of Hormuz.

He pointed out that huge quantities of oil pass through the strait, and that 29 ships crossed it during the previous night, adding that Iran got itself into trouble because of its closure and lost its sources of income.

Data from Kpler, a commodity market analysis company, reported by Reuters, show that the average transit traffic in the strait during a recent ten-day period amounted to about 18 crossings per day, and the number decreased to nine ships on some days.

The Wall Street Journal had quoted unnamed American officials as saying that Trump doubted Iran's willingness to meet his demands, and that he had informed his team that he was likely to resume the bombing campaign after the US midterm elections in November.

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Pezeshkian: The proposal enjoys the support of the Supreme Leader

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In turn, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that the country's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, supports the new proposal regarding the Strait of Hormuz, according to Agence France-Presse.

Pezeshkian stressed that the terms of the new agreement proposed by Tehran to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz were drawn up “in coordination” with the Supreme Leader and will be implemented “without any problems” if the United States agrees.

In an interview with the CBS network published by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Saturday, he announced the formation of a six-member team that “includes representatives of various organizations and bodies, including the army, parliament, and government.”

The President, who concluded a week of diplomatic talks on Friday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York, added that this team “meets to discuss the issues raised and has the authority to make decisions.”

In addition, media reports stated that the new plan calls for a cessation of all hostilities in the Middle East for seven days, including in Lebanon.

Araqchi said that the steps required of the United States are not new, and that they are all included in the previous memorandum of understanding, adding that “the decision is now in the hands of the United States.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the American CBS network that his country had previously reached an agreement based on the memorandum of understanding signed in Pakistan, and that “everything will return to the way it was” if Washington agreed to proceed in accordance with that understanding.

But Kirsten Fontenrose, who worked on the National Security Council during the first Trump administration, told the BBC that there was no desire to resume discussion of the memorandum of understanding, because it was considered a bad agreement in the United States, and described the Iranian effort as an attempt to push towards a “closed door.”

Tehran adheres to its nuclear stance and shows readiness for talks

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran will not show flexibility on its nuclear program, even if the United States agrees to its proposal to end the fighting.

The official added that Iran will not make concessions on what it considers its rights, including uranium enrichment, and will not agree to transfer its stock of highly enriched uranium outside the country.

On the other hand, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said, in an interview with the “Face the Nation” program on CBS, that Tehran is ready to hold talks on its nuclear program and other issues, but will not accept “bullying or coercion.”

He added, "Iran does not seek war, but will defend itself in the face of pressure, threats, and attacks," noting that it has already agreed not to develop nuclear weapons.

Araqchi had said that American approval of the proposal would allow the warring parties to begin broader talks on “agreed upon topics,” which may include the Iranian nuclear program, according to Reuters.

Houthi media: A Saudi raid targets a bridge in Ibb

Houthi media reported that a Saudi air strike targeted Al-Dalil Bridge in Al-Makhader District in Ibb Governorate.

The Saudi government media office did not respond to a request for comment on the attack, nor did Saudi Arabia confirm that the attack had occurred.

Reuters news agency said it verified the location through the bridge, buildings, billboard and riverbed, which matched satellite images.

The date of filming the video was verified through media reports from Houthi-affiliated parties that reported that the Saudi army targeted Al-Dalil Bridge on September 26.

The Houthis: Who are they and how did their movement originate?

The Mecca Agreement brings together Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan and is based on “collective deterrence”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that his country had offered the United States an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week.

Araqchi told reporters at the United Nations headquarters in New York that this is possible “if the necessary conditions are met,” noting that these conditions are contained in the memorandum of understanding that was signed in June.

The understanding that collapsed in July stipulated the cessation of hostilities on all fronts, the unfreezing of Iranian assets frozen after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and the lifting of US sanctions that are strangling the country’s economy.

Araqchi said: “The decision is now in the hands of the United States,” adding that the plan was conveyed to the American side via Qatar.

In response to a question about the Iranian offer, an American official told the BBC that there are positive discussions taking place through mediators, including discussions regarding the nuclear file.

“If the necessary conditions are met, the strait can be reopened and normal maritime traffic can be restored within seven days,” Araqchi told reporters.

The memorandum of understanding concluded between the United States and Iran on June 18 was designed to achieve a ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even partially.

The agreement, consisting of 14 clauses, stipulates that Iran will never possess a nuclear weapon. He also indicated that the United States, Iran and their allies would end military operations on “all fronts,” and included provisions that include ending the US naval blockade and easing sanctions.

The agreement also included a pledge from Iran to “exert its utmost efforts to ensure the safe passage of commercial ships” through the strait, and to hold talks with the Sultanate of Oman regarding future shipping arrangements.

However, the agreement collapsed shortly after when both sides resumed attacks.

Iran attacked ships that it said attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz without permission.

In return, the United States launched attacks on Iranian sites in the Strait, as well as on Iranian oil tankers off the coast of the country. It also continued to impose a blockade on Iranian ports, causing massive disruption to the Iranian economy.

Since then, President Trump has claimed that the United States has succeeded in securing the exit of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

However, the Ansar Allah group in Yemen has recently intensified its attacks aimed at disrupting Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea, located on the other side of the Arabian Peninsula.

The group seized large, strategically important areas of the Red Sea coast during a rapid attack launched this month, including the port of Mocha overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Another one of the most important strategic sea lanes for global shipping traffic.

The situation was exacerbated by the attacks launched by the Houthis on Saudi oil facilities. American media reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman requested military support from President Trump.

On Saturday, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen announced the interception of two ballistic missiles and drones launched by the Houthis towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

During his speech before the United Nations General Assembly this week, Trump expressed his belief that reaching an agreement with Iran, which he has been unable to achieve so far, will take place immediately after the November elections.

Trump asked, "Am I going to conclude an agreement with Iran that will allow it to rebuild and create a much greater country than it was before? Or will I eliminate the Islamic Republic and destroy it quickly, without giving it any opportunity to kill people and destroy countries again? Do I send it to hell?"

On Friday, Araqchi stated that Iran does not accept “coercion, threats or intimidation,” adding that “peace cannot be built through the threat of annihilation.”

Oman confirms its readiness for mediation, and Russia offers assistance

On Saturday, Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi called on all parties in the Middle East war to exercise restraint, stressing Muscat’s readiness for mediation.

Al Busaidi said, before the United Nations General Assembly in New York, that settling outstanding disputes requires restraint, farsightedness, and engaging in a dialogue that leads to consensual political solutions and sustainable understandings.

In turn, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan criticized “the international community’s absence from protecting the security of the Gulf,” stressing the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation in the Straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab.

He criticized “the international community’s failure to shoulder its responsibilities in confronting everything that threatens international peace and security,” and that “the stability of this vital region is directly linked to global energy security and the continuity of international trade.”

He stressed the importance of "protecting freedom of navigation in all international waterways, especially the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden."

Iraq requests an exception to the US embargo

Speaking about the US sanctions on Iran, the Iraqi government said on Saturday that it would hold talks with Washington to exclude some Iraqi airports from the US measure to ban the flights of Iranian airlines.

The Prime Minister's Media Office stated that the exception "allows the resumption of flights, for humanitarian reasons, related to treatment, study, religious visits, and the interests of civilians."

Iranian airlines transport Iranians who come to Iraq in large numbers to visit the Shiite holy shrines, or Iraqis who wish to travel to Iran, whether for religious visits, to continue their studies in the Islamic Republic, or for medical purposes.