Only a negotiated solution: Iran responds after Trump rejects Hormuz peace plan

Iran on Sunday reiterated that diplomacy is the only way to resolve its conflict with the United States and Israel, after US President Donald Trump said he had rejected Tehran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt the fighting.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran’s conditions for reopening the strategic waterway remained unchanged and that only a negotiated settlement could break the deadlock.

"Our conditions are clear, and any move toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz is contingent on these conditions being met," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on social media. "Only a negotiated solution can get them out of this deadlock." He added that mediators had not officially conveyed a US rejection of the Iranian proposal.

“We are waiting for the mediators to convey the definitive views to us, and we will make a decision based on them,” Araghchi said.

Iran had presented its peace proposal earlier this week during the UN General Assembly in New York, with the plan conveyed to Washington through Qatari mediators. The proposal envisages a seven-day countdown to reopening the Strait of Hormuz and a pause in regional fighting, followed by broader negotiations on mutually agreed issues.

Trump, however, said on Saturday that he had rejected the proposal, arguing that Iran was seeking an immediate reopening of the waterway because it was under severe pressure.

“They want to make a deal to open the Hormuz Strait immediately because they're losing so badly,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed US officials, first reported that Trump had rejected the Iranian proposal. The report said Trump was privately doubtful that Tehran would meet his demands and had told aides he considered a renewed bombing campaign likely after the November US midterm elections.

A US official had earlier described discussions with Iran through mediators as “positive and constructive”.

HORMUZ CRISIS DISRUPTS GLOBAL OIL FLOWS

The dispute over the Strait of Hormuz has heightened concerns over global energy supplies and the wider economic impact of the seven-month-old conflict. The US has imposed an economic blockade on Iran as it seeks to pressure Tehran to halt attacks on vessels in the strategic waterway.

Shipping through the strait has fallen sharply during the conflict, disrupting oil flows through one of the world’s most important maritime routes.

Iran has also held discussions with Saudi Arabia over the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the regional stakes surrounding the waterway.

Araghchi said on Friday that if Washington agreed to the proposal, the parties could move towards wider talks, potentially including Iran’s nuclear programme.

Tehran, however, has indicated that it would not accept concessions on its right to enrich uranium or on shipping highly enriched uranium out of the country. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran would maintain its position on its nuclear programme even if the US accepted the peace proposal.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran was ready to negotiate over its nuclear programme and other issues but would not accept “bullying or coercion”.

“Iran is not seeking war, but will defend itself against pressure, threats and attacks,” Pezeshkian said in an interview with CBS’ “Face the Nation”.

The conflict began on February 28 with US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Since then, periods of fighting have alternated with pauses, with the conflict killing thousands, damaging Iran’s economy and weakening its conventional military capabilities.

Iran and allied groups have also retaliated across the region. Iranian forces have targeted US allies in the Gulf with drones and missiles, while the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen have carried out attacks targeting Saudi interests.