US Rejects Iran's Strait of Hormuz Proposal as Cynical, Diplomatic Efforts Stall
Washington has dismissed Iran's proposal for reopening the Strait of Hormuz as 'cynical', with US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz calling it a non-starter. The plan, announced by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the United Nations earlier this week, calls for the release of frozen Iranian assets and the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil in exchange for the end of the US naval blockade.
The proposal has been met with skepticism from Washington, with President Donald Trump stating that Iranian leaders want the deal because 'they are losing so badly'. Waltz added that releasing the blockade and sanctions would be unacceptable to the US, saying 'this was, I think, a pretty cynical attempt to put something on the table that they knew was unacceptable.'
Araghchi responded by denouncing what he described as 'old, unproved accusations' made by Waltz. He struck a pessimistic tone regarding the prospect of a deal, stating 'we have no reason to come back to diplomacy and engage with this administration once again because of their behavior in the past two years.'
The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway central to the world's energy supplies, making it a crucial point of contention between Iran and the US.