WASHINGTON REPORTEDLY DISMISSES TEHRAN’S PROPOSAL AS IRAN OFFERS ROADMAP TO RESTORE MARITIME PASSAGE AND RESUME NUCLEAR TALKS
U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s proposal for a seven day roadmap that Tehran says could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, halt regional fighting and restart negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.
The reported rejection comes after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran had delivered a concrete proposal to the United States through Qatari mediators, placing the next step with Washington.
IRAN’S SEVEN-DAY ROADMAP
Araqchi said the plan would establish a seven-day process beginning once Washington formally accepts the proposal.
According to the Iranian foreign minister, initial measures would take several days, with the Strait of Hormuz reopening on the sixth day. On the seventh day, Iran and the United States would resume negotiations on a longer term agreement concerning Iran’s nuclear programme.
Iran has linked the proposal to a number of actions by Washington, including an easing of military pressure and measures affecting the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and sanctions on Iranian oil exports.
HORMUZ AT THE CENTRE OF THE DISPUTE
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, making its continued disruption a major concern for global oil markets and international shipping.
Iran previously indicated that it could reopen the waterway within seven days if the United States eased military pressure and lifted its blockade of Iranian ports. Tehran’s proposal was transmitted to Washington through mediators on September 16.
Araqchi said Iran was prepared to restore normal maritime passage if the necessary conditions were met, adding that the decision now rested with the United States.
TRUMP REMAINS SCEPTICAL
The reported U.S. rejection was first attributed to a Wall Street Journal report citing unnamed U.S. officials. According to those reports, Trump remains sceptical that Tehran will accept his demands concerning its nuclear programme and has indicated to aides that renewed military action remains possible.
The reports come as Washington and Tehran remain divided over the conditions for ending hostilities and returning to nuclear negotiations.
DIPLOMACY UNDER PRESSURE
The latest proposal represents another attempt to create a diplomatic pathway after previous efforts failed to produce a lasting agreement.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran is prepared to negotiate over its nuclear programme and other issues, while rejecting what he described as coercion. Iran maintains that it is not seeking war but will defend itself against military pressure.
For Washington, the central questions remain Iran’s nuclear programme, regional security and the conditions under which military operations and sanctions could be eased.
For Tehran, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restoring normal maritime traffic are being presented as part of a broader diplomatic package.
With the waterway remaining a critical pressure point for global energy markets, the fate of Iran’s seven-day proposal could have consequences extending well beyond the two countries.
