Trump Rejects Iran Peace Proposal, Leaving War and Tensions Unresolved
US President Donald Trump has rejected Iran's seven-day deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, just days after it was proposed by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the United Nations General Assembly.
The proposal would have required the US to waive sanctions on Iranian oil, release an estimated $12 billion of frozen assets, and cease its naval blockade in exchange for Iran opening up the Strait of Hormuz on Day 7. This would have paved the way for broader peace negotiations, including on Tehran's nuclear program.
However, Trump claimed that the looming Congressional midterm elections had no bearing on his Iran strategy, despite previous tensions between the two countries. He also suggested that the US could resume bombing Iran after the midterms.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reiterated Tehran's position that it wants both parties to return to the June Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was a key part of the proposal. The MoU would have given Iran and Oman joint control over transit through the Strait of Hormuz, but the US undermined this by attempting to force a new corridor through the southern waters.
Tehran sees this as a 'win' on its specific issue, reflecting its ability to enforce Article 5 of the MoU and ensure better negotiation position for long-term nuclear talks. The Iranian government has shown that it is willing to tolerate the US's mercurial positions and continuing blockade in order to achieve its goals.