Iran does not relax demands after Trump rejects proposal on Strait of Hormuz

Iran still says it is waiting for a definitive American response to its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days. Tehran does not intend to water down its terms for the time being, even after President Donald Trump publicly said he rejected the proposal.

This makes a quick breakthrough seem further away again. The United States and Iran continue to talk to each other through mediators, but still strongly disagree about, among other things, the US blockade, sanctions and the Iranian nuclear program.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran has seen Trump's statements but has not yet received a formal response through the mediators.

According to Bloomberg, Qatar and Pakistan are mentioned as intermediaries. Iran, meanwhile, is sticking to its terms, stating that only a negotiated solution can break the stalemate around Hormuz.

Trump said on Saturday that Iran had indeed made a proposal, but that he had rejected it. “They made a proposal, but I turned it down,” he told reporters at the White House.

The core of the Iranian proposal revolves around the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran would be willing to make the important shipping route accessible again if Washington, among other things, lifts its blockade of Iranian ports and relaxes sanctions.

The Strait of Hormuz is crucial to the global oil trade. The US blockade has severely restricted Iranian oil exports, while the passage for other ships has only partially been restored. According to the White House, hundreds of commercial ships have passed under US protection since the blockade.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian previously made it clear that his country does not want to fully allow free passage as long as the US blockade and sanctions continue to apply.

Meanwhile, US pressure remains high. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Trump is anticipating new bombing raids on Iran after the November midterm elections. Trump did not want to say on Saturday whether he indeed intends to.

This leaves the situation around Hormuz uncertain. Iran says it is open to negotiations, but does not want to relax its conditions. Trump has rejected the current proposal and Washington is maintaining the blockade for the time being.