(CNN) - Iran said it is awaiting a “final” response to its latest proposals regarding reopening the Strait of Hormuz, despite US President Donald Trump publicly rejecting the proposal.
Under the plan, Iran will reopen the vital waterway within a week and resume nuclear talks if the United States agrees to certain conditions, including lifting the naval blockade and abandoning oil sanctions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said: “We have seen the first reaction from the US president, but we have not been informed of anything from the mediators yet.”
He added: "Of course, the American President also said a lot of good things, as well as a lot of contradictory things, which is something we unfortunately hear from him a lot. We are waiting for the final opinions to be conveyed to us by the mediators, and we will make a decision based on that."
On Saturday, Trump rejected the latest Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as "unacceptable."
After a week during which senior Iranian officials visited New York to participate in the United Nations General Assembly meetings and meet with American officials, Trump's statements indicated that no tangible diplomatic progress had been achieved.
Trump said: “They want to make an agreement whereby they open the Strait immediately because they are suffering huge losses. They want to make an agreement, and I think that is a good thing. I also like making agreements, but that agreement will not be acceptable.”
"We are in no hurry"
Araqchi told reporters during his visit to New York to participate in the UN General Assembly meetings this week: “If the necessary conditions are met, the strait can be reopened and normal maritime traffic can be restored within seven days. The decision is now up to the United States.”
Araqchi added: “You cannot bomb a country, threaten to annihilate it, impose a naval blockade and coercive measures, and then expect security and freedom of navigation to be restored automatically.”
The Iranian foreign minister did not clarify the specific terms, but said they "do not go beyond" what was included in the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, which was signed in June but collapsed shortly thereafter amid renewed fighting.
In response to Araghchi's statements, a White House official told CNN earlier that the two sides were holding "positive and constructive discussions through mediators."
“The United States has a very strong position that gives it control over the Strait of Hormuz, so we are in no rush,” the official said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio took a similar stance earlier this week, saying: “If an agreement is to be reached with Iran... it is going to take a lot of hard work over a period of time.”
The Wall Street Journal, citing American officials, reported on Friday that Trump informed his aides that a new bombing campaign was likely after the upcoming midterm elections. Officials indicated that Trump's position may change in the coming weeks.
CNN has reached out to the White House for comment on the report.
In his speech before the UN General Assembly, Trump said: “I have a big decision to make: Do I make an agreement with Iran that allows it to rebuild and create a country much greater than it was before? Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic, quickly, without giving it any opportunity to kill and destroy peoples and countries again?”
