Iran Offers Deal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz, Trump Labels It 'Trump Strait'
US President Donald Trump posted an image of the Strait of Hormuz labeled 'Trump Strait' on his Truth Social platform, just hours after Iran proposed a deal to reopen the waterway within a week. The proposal, made by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, would see Iran resume talks on its nuclear program in seven days if the US lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports, waives sanctions on Iranian oil sales, and observes a ceasefire that includes Lebanon.
The White House has confirmed that US officials are having 'positive and constructive conversations' with mediators on the Iran war. This comes after hours of indirect talks between Iran and the US earlier in the week. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian left New York for Tehran after the annual U.N. gathering, where he pushed back against Trump's threat to 'annihilate' the Islamic Republic.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia claims it has intercepted a ballistic missile fired by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen. The Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the attack as a 'grave escalation and threat to regional security.' Iraq is seeking exemptions from US sanctions on Iranian airlines for humanitarian reasons such as medical treatment, education, and religious pilgrimages.