In brief
Donald Trump refused Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying the decision was unacceptable and that the US has total control of the waterway. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged the rejection and said Tehran will wait for a definitive U.S. response before deciding on the conditions set in the June memorandum of understanding. The dispute has widened to the UN General Assembly, where Iran has called for a staged implementation of the MOU and for the U.S. to demonstrate it will not overthrow Tehran’s government. Amid heightened sanctions and blocking of Iranian flights, U.S. officials defend the move as part of a broader economic blockade while Oman urges continued dialogue to safeguard navigation.
Donald Trump on Saturday rejected Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, insisting the U.S. has "total control" and the deal was unacceptable.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, posting on Telegram, acknowledged the rejection and said Tehran will wait for a definitive U.S. response before deciding on the conditions outlined in the June memorandum of understanding.
Araghchi added that Iran has already raised the issue of reopening the strait and ending hostilities at the UN General Assembly in New York, and that the waterway, closed since February, carries about a fifth of global oil traffic.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, meanwhile, criticised the U.S. for "tore up" the MOU when bombing resumed, demanding that the U.S. prove it does not intend to overthrow Iran's government.
Oman, acting as an informal mediator, urged all parties to keep dialogue open and to work through the MOU in stages.
U.S. officials, including Ambassador Matthew Whitaker and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, defended the rejection as part of a broader economic blockade, dubbed "Operation Economic Outcast," and warned that sanctions would pressure Iran but called the effectiveness uncertain amid continued Chinese oil trade.
The dispute has already affected regional shipping lanes, with increased oil prices and stricter flight restrictions on Iranian carriers imposed by Turkey, Oman and the UAE.
