Trump rejects Iranian proposal, asserts full US control of Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected Iran's proposal for a ceasefire and refused to acknowledge Washington's full control over the Strait of Hormuz, citing heavy losses suffered by Iran. The U.S. leader stated that Tehran is enduring significant setbacks due to the closure of the strait and has lost vital revenue sources. Trump emphasized that the U.S. maintains full dominance over the Strait of Hormuz, implementing "the largest blockade in military history" and creating a "wall of steel" around it.

The president highlighted that substantial amounts of oil travel through the strait, noting that 29 ships passed through the previous night. Iran's refusal to agree with the U.S. stance comes as officials reported that Tehran presented its proposal through intermediaries, but Trump declined to accept it. U.S. authorities revealed that Trump anticipates resuming airstrikes against Iran following the U.S. midterm elections and doubts Iran's readiness to meet his demands, though his position might evolve in the coming weeks.

Trump's reluctance to resume large-scale conflict is partly attributed to the need to preserve dwindling ammunition supplies for future contingencies. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, disclosed the terms of the proposal sent to the U.S. via Qatar. Tehran's plan entailed a seven-day schedule to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping and restart negotiations, contingent on the U.S. fulfilling Iran's conditions within four to five days.

The plan calls for suspending all hostilities in the Middle East, including Lebanon, releasing approximately $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets, lifting sanctions on Iranian oil, and ending the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. In return, Iran expects the Strait of Hormuz to resume normal operations by the seventh day, with negotiations on agreed-upon matters to commence on the same day, aiming for a comprehensive agreement.