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Tehran says negotiations remain the only path to resolving the conflict as Trump rejects Iran’s proposal but indicates US negotiators could hold further talks this week.
Iran has renewed its call for a diplomatic solution to its conflict with the United States and Israel after President Donald Trump rejected a proposal from Tehran aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending hostilities.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran’s conditions for reopening the strategic waterway remained unchanged and that a negotiated agreement was the only way to break the current deadlock.
Iran presented the proposal during the United Nations General Assembly in New York and transmitted it to Washington through Qatari mediators. Under the plan, the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened within seven days while broader negotiations would resume on issues including Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump said Saturday that he had rejected the Iranian proposal, arguing that Tehran was seeking an immediate reopening of the waterway because of its economic and military difficulties.
However, Trump later indicated that US negotiators could engage with Iranian representatives again this week, leaving open the possibility of renewed diplomatic discussions. Araqchi said Iran had not yet received a formal rejection through the mediators and would wait for Washington’s official response before deciding its next steps.
Strait of Hormuz at center of negotiations
The Strait of Hormuz has become a central issue in the conflict because of its importance to global energy supplies. The waterway normally carries a significant share of the world’s oil shipments, making prolonged disruption a major concern for energy markets and international trade.
Iran has said it is prepared to reopen the strait if its conditions are met. Tehran’s proposal reportedly calls for the United States to reduce military pressure, lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports and ease sanctions affecting Iranian oil exports.
The proposal also includes a broader halt to hostilities and the release of some frozen Iranian assets. In return, Iran would reopen the waterway and resume negotiations over its nuclear program.
The Trump administration has rejected the sequencing proposed by Tehran. US officials have said Washington wants substantive Iranian commitments, particularly regarding its nuclear program, before major concessions are made.
Regional tensions remain high
The diplomatic dispute comes as fighting continues to affect countries across the Middle East. Attacks involving Iranian forces and Iran-aligned groups have raised security concerns among US allies in the Gulf.
Saudi Arabia has faced attacks linked to the wider conflict, while the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen remains involved in regional hostilities.
The conflict has also affected global energy markets. Oil prices rose after Trump rejected Iran’s proposal, reflecting continued concern over the future of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the possibility of further military escalation.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran remains prepared to negotiate over its nuclear program and other outstanding issues but will not accept negotiations under military pressure. Iran has also maintained that it is not seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
For now, the diplomatic channel remains open despite the rejection of Tehran’s latest proposal. Any renewed talks between Washington and Tehran could determine whether the two sides can reach an arrangement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and reduce the wider regional conflict.