President Trump stated on Saturday that he is rejecting a proposal from Iran aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian government had presented the plan during the United Nations General Assembly meetings held in New York earlier this week.
According to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the country had communicated a concrete seven-day plan to the United States via Qatar. Araghchi noted on Friday that if the necessary conditions are met, the strait could be reopened and normal maritime traffic restored within that timeframe, stating that the choice ultimately rests with the United States. The strait has remained closed since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, causing significant disruptions to the global oil supply.
The proposal offered by Tehran mirrors a memorandum of understanding previously agreed upon by both nations in June, which sought to temporarily halt hostilities and resume ceasefire negotiations. Under the terms of that earlier agreement, Iran was to receive relief from a U.S. naval blockade, including the easing of sanctions and the release of frozen assets. In exchange, Iran committed to refraining from seeking nuclear weapons and promised to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Araghchi maintained that the required actions from the United States are not new and are already covered under existing commitments, suggesting there should be no difficulty in implementing them.
In a prerecorded interview with CBS scheduled for Sunday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran is prepared to abide by its commitments, provided the United States demonstrates that it does not intend to overthrow the current administration. Pezeshkian argued that both sides must take steps to resolve the current impasse, after which they could return to the negotiating table. He further stated that if the United States accepts the proposal to reopen the strait and resume nuclear talks, Iran would permit U.N. nuclear inspectors to re-enter the country.
President Trump waves to the media on the South Lawn of the White House on September 26, 2026 in Washington, D.C. Trump is traveling to Knoxville, Tennessee to attend the University of Tennessee vs. University of Texas College football game. Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images North America hide caption
