Washington (HRNW)- US President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days and resume nuclear negotiations, while saying he expects further talks with Tehran in the coming days.
Speaking in an interview with Axios, Trump said Iran wanted an agreement but that the proposal presented by Tehran was not acceptable to Washington. He said the offer was similar to what the United States might have accepted a year earlier and argued that Iran had gone too far in its demands.
Iran had proposed reopening the strategically important waterway and restarting nuclear negotiations within a week, subject to conditions including the lifting of the US naval blockade, removal of restrictions on Iranian oil sales, and a renewed ceasefire. The proposal had been conveyed to Washington through intermediaries.
Trump said he nevertheless expected more discussions with Iran during the week. Two regional sources told Axios that Qatar and other mediators were continuing efforts to bridge differences between the two sides, with another round of indirect talks potentially beginning as early as Monday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has also said Tehran remains interested in a diplomatic solution. He stated that Iran is awaiting an official US response through the mediators despite Trump’s public rejection of the proposal.
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the negotiations because of its importance to global energy shipments. Iran has linked the reopening of the waterway to changes in US military and economic pressure, while Washington has continued to demand concessions from Tehran on issues including its nuclear programme.
The latest developments indicate that while the Iranian proposal has been rejected in its current form, diplomatic channels between Washington and Tehran remain active through regional mediators.
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