Iran proposes reopening the Strait of Hormuz in seven days, but Trump rejects the plan

Iran presented a plan to the United States on Friday to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, but The Wall Street Journal indicates that President Donald Trump rejected the proposal.

This sea route, key to the global oil trade, is a central element of the conflict between the United States and Iran, at a stalemate after almost seven months of war.

New mediation efforts at the UN world leaders meeting in New York this week offered some optimism about possible progress.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced on Friday that his country presented Washington with a plan to reopen Hormuz within seven days.

"If the necessary conditions are met, the strait can be reopened, and normal maritime traffic restored within seven days," Araqchi declared at UN headquarters in New York.

"The decision now lies with the United States. Iran does not tolerate coercion, threats or intimidation. Iran will not give up its sovereign rights due to pressure," he emphasized.

However, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had rejected the proposal, citing officials familiar with the matter.

Conditions

The article indicates that the president is skeptical that Tehran will comply with his demands and adds that he considers new bombings likely.

Trump also posted on his Truth Social platform an image of a map on which the Strait of Hormuz is circled and labeled "Trump Strait."

Previous press reports indicate that the Iranian proposal provides for a cessation of all hostilities in the Middle East for seven days, including Lebanon.

According to these reports, the release of frozen Iranian assets, valued at at least $12 billion, is also contemplated, as well as the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil and the end of the US naval blockade against Iran.

On the seventh day of the truce, Iran would reopen Hormuz.

"As before"

Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian said in an interview with CBS that the ceasefire process "will start from the same day they accept it." "If the United States accepts (...) everything will go back to how it was before," he added.

Hossein Mohebi, spokesman for the Revolutionary Guards, declared in an exclusive interview with AFP on Tuesday that ending hostilities in Yemen was also among Tehran's demands.

The United States and Iran signed a protocol of agreement in June to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and subsequently open negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program.

But the deal collapsed soon after, when Iran opened fire on commercial ships in Hormuz that it accused of deviating from the approved route through the strait.

Iran requires authorization from ships wishing to cross it, citing security and sovereignty reasons.

Ships that refuse are usually attacked, while the United States bombs Iranian coastal areas in retaliation.