U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday, September 26, 2026, rejected a proposal from Iran to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz within seven days. Iran had offered this deal in exchange for several concessions from the U.S., including the lifting of a naval blockade on Iranian ports, the waiver of sanctions on Iranian oil sales, and a ceasefire across the Middle East, specifically mentioning Lebanon.
The proposal was delivered through Qatari mediators at the UN General Assembly in New York. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the conditions were consistent with a previous memorandum of understanding, which also called for the release of frozen Iranian assets estimated to be worth at least $12 billion. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, returning from the UN, confirmed that the proposal was developed in coordination with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House, stated, "I reject their proposal. ... I rejected their deal." He indicated that Iran wanted to make a deal because "they're losing so badly" and that the U.S. was "winning tremendously." He also posted an image on Truth Social labeling the waterway the "Trump Strait," suggesting his stance prior to his public rejection.
Some analysts, like Ali Vaez from the International Crisis Group, suggested the proposal was a clever move by Iran, potentially tempting Trump ahead of midterm elections by ending an unpopular conflict and lowering energy prices. However, Trump's rejection suggests he believes the U.S. has total control of the strait and that continued economic pressure, dubbed "Operation Economic Outcast," is effective, as evidenced by reports of some foreign banks and airlines halting transactions and flights with Iran.
The rejection by Trump and subsequent comments from U.S. officials, including U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker, who called Iran's offer "half measures," indicate that the U.S. maintains its hardline stance. The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial choke point for global oil supplies, has been effectively closed since February, and new mediation efforts had taken place leading up to Iran's proposal.
