United States President Donald Trump has reportedly rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days. The diplomatic roadmap, conveyed through Qatari intermediaries, linked maritime passage to sanctions relief and the release of frozen assets before facing swift rejection in Washington.
Inside Iran’s Seven-Day Roadmap for the Strait of Hormuz
Tehran’s proposal aimed to restore normal maritime traffic through the strategic waterway within a week. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi outlined a plan that required the United States to fulfill commitments made under the failed June 17 Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Those terms demanded the release of frozen Iranian assets totaling $12bn, the lifting of oil sanctions, and an immediate end to the naval blockade on Iranian ports. The proposal would take effect within seven days if Washington agreed to Iran’s demands.
The conditions also called for a complete cessation of hostilities, including in Lebanon, where Israel still occupies part of the south of the country. According to Araghchi, meeting these prerequisites over an initial four-to-five-day window would allow the strait to reopen, clearing the path for negotiations with the US on a “final deal” starting on day seven. The choice now rests with the United States,
said Araghchi. Iran does not accept coercion, threats or intimidation.
He also said at a private media briefing on Thursday that the process could begin as soon as the US accepts the plan, and that Iran has also contacted Saudi Arabia over the Strait of Hormuz issue.
“If the necessary conditions are met, the strait can be reopened, and normal maritime passage restored within seven days.”
Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Foreign Minister
Washington’s Skepticism and the Threat of Renewed Bombing
The US government has not publicly responded to the plan, but The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had quickly ruled it out, citing unnamed US officials. Trump has vowed that Iran will never acquire a nuclear bomb, and is sceptical that Tehran would meet his demands. Based on discussions recounted by American officials acquainted with the matter, Trump communicated to his aides his skepticism that Tehran would comply with his terms, adding that American airstrikes against Iran could restart following the American congressional midterms in November. Behind closed doors, nevertheless, sources noted that the president harbors skepticism regarding Tehran’s willingness to accept his conditions, leading Trump to inform his counselors that fresh American military strikes remain a prospect, though the extent of any subsequent operation is presently indefinite.
Asserting his perspective in public remarks, Trump claimed that Iran hopes to negotiate an agreement following the midterms aimed at dismantling its atomic capabilities. He also shared a graphic on Truth Social featuring a map where the Strait of Hormuz was highlighted and designated as “Trump Strait,” while Tehran reportedly awaited formal communication from Washington prior to the publication of the Wall Street Journal article. The initiative was formally introduced during the UN General Assembly sessions held in New York, and subsequently addressed by Iran’s top diplomat during a closed-door meeting concurrent with the UN gathering.
Diplomatic Impasse and the Nuclear Standoff
The collapse of this latest proposal leaves the conflict in an uncertain phase between renewed military confrontation and diplomacy as Washington and Tehran continue indirect nuclear talks amid tensions over the Strait of Hormuz. The fighting began on February 28 when the US and Israel conducted joint strikes on Iran. On June 17, Washington and Tehran had finalized a 14-point agreement designed to halt the Middle East conflict, which mandated an immediate cessation of all military activities.
Adding further friction to the stalemate, an Iranian spokesperson informed Reuters that Tehran refuses to compromise on its atomic activities even in the event that Washington ratifies a peace pact, maintaining that the nation will not surrender its sovereign prerogatives, which encompass uranium enrichment and the rejection of exporting high-enriched uranium overseas.
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