Trump Rejects Iran Truce Offer, Betting on Patience to Yield Better Terms

US President Donald Trump has rejected Iran's latest proposal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The plan, presented by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, calls for a seven-day roadmap that would see the US lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports, waive sanctions on Iranian oil sales, unfreeze $12 billion in Iranian assets, and honor a regional ceasefire covering Lebanon and Yemen.

The framework is similar to a memorandum of understanding signed by the two countries in June. However, Trump believes that the blockade and economic isolation are finally squeezing Iran, and he views Tehran's offer as a sign of weakness rather than an opportunity. According to Andreas Krieg, an associate professor at King's College London, Trump appears convinced that every passing week strengthens America's bargaining position.

Krieg noted that the administration has escalated efforts to tighten the blockade, target Iranian oil revenue, and impose secondary sanctions on countries trading with Tehran. Richard Weitz, a senior nonresident associate fellow at the NATO Defense College, suggested that the White House may believe a little more patience will yield better terms.

The wait-and-see approach carries political risk as Republicans head towards November's midterm elections. A late-August Reuters/Ipsos poll found 63 percent of Americans opposed to the US-Israel war on Iran, while 31 percent supported it. Rising fuel and transportation costs could sharpen voter anxiety over the cost of living.