Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s suggestion to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, as reported by the Wall Street Journal and AFP. The U.S. President is contemplating a return to military actions against Iran following the upcoming midterm elections in November.
On Friday evening, Trump shared a map of the Strait of Hormuz on his social media platform, Truth Social, labeling it “Trump’s Strait.”
According to American officials cited by the Wall Street Journal, Trump is skeptical about Tehran’s ability to meet his demands.
Iran Awaits Washington’s Response
Earlier on Friday, Iran presented the U.S. with a proposal to reopen the strategically vital strait within a week, stating that the decision now lies with Washington. “The seven-day timeline will commence once the United States agrees to this plan,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the UN headquarters in New York.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of the conflict between Tehran and Washington, which escalated following airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel against Iran at the end of February.
Prior to the conflict, one-fifth of the world’s hydrocarbons passed through this maritime route.
Iran’s minister emphasized that the steps the U.S. needs to take are already outlined in the understanding protocol signed in June with Washington. “If the United States agrees to proceed this way, everything will return to normal,” Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian stated in an interview with CBS on Friday, adding that “the process will begin the very day they accept this.”
Conditions from the Summer Protocol
In June, Trump and Pezeshkian signed a memorandum aimed at halting the war in the Middle East, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and subsequently engaging in negotiations concerning Iran’s sensitive nuclear program.
However, the document has been subject to differing interpretations from both parties, leading to stalled discussions.
Among the conditions set by Iran in June were an immediate and complete halt to hostilities across all fronts, including in Lebanon, where the Israeli military engages with the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.
Tehran also demanded the release of frozen Iranian funds and the lifting of economic sanctions, as the country faces a collapsing economy and skyrocketing prices that triggered unprecedented popular protests in January, which were violently suppressed.
For decades, Iran has been under U.S. sanctions impacting its economy and international transactions. Additionally, the nation has seen its overseas assets frozen since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
While official figures are lacking, local media estimated in the spring that these assets range between $100 billion and $123 billion.
