Iran says awaiting formal US answer after Trump rejection

Iran has stated it is awaiting a formal US response through international mediators after American leadership dismissed a proposed roadmap aimed at ending hostilities and reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping.

The diplomatic friction centres on a seven-day plan presented by Tehran during the United Nations General Assembly. According to TRT World, the initiative was transmitted via Qatari intermediaries and outlined a phased sequence. Under the proposal, the United States would lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports, waive oil sanctions, release billions in frozen assets, and observe a regional ceasefire covering Lebanon and Yemen across the first five days. This would allow the strategic waterway to reopen on the sixth day ahead of broader peace talks.

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The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the world's oil and gas supply passes, has faced severe disruption since the outbreak of war. Despite these proposals, US President Donald Trump publicly rejected the terms while speaking to reporters, asserting that Tehran sought an immediate deal solely because they were losing the conflict. Al Jazeera reported that Trump deemed the arrangement unacceptable, maintaining that the United States already held total control of the strait.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged the public rejection in a post on Telegram, noting that while initial remarks had been heard, formal word had not yet arrived from mediators. As BBC reported, Araghchi criticized the frequency of contradictory statements from Washington, emphasizing that Tehran would make decisions based on definitive views conveyed through intermediaries such as Oman and Pakistan. Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi called upon all parties at the UN General Debate to continue open dialogue to safeguard navigation.

Security concerns have intensified on the ground alongside the diplomatic stalemate. As reported by Iran International, Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority warned charterers forcing unauthorized vessel transits through Hormuz that they risk being placed on non-compliance lists and facing financial and physical liabilities. Meanwhile, Arise News noted that regional military coordination is accelerating, with defence officials from Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia holding high-level talks in Riyadh to address ongoing security challenges and infrastructure attacks.

The economic pressure campaign spearheaded by Washington—dubbed Operation Economic Outcast—continues to impact Tehran. According to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, financial institutions and airlines in countries such as Turkey, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates have curtailed transactions and flights with Iran. However, economists cited by BBC question the long-term efficacy of these sanctions given that major buyers like China continue commercial engagements with Tehran.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian voiced deep distrust of negotiations during interviews with Al Jazeera and The Senior, pointing to past diplomatic efforts that were swiftly followed by renewed military strikes and economic penalties. Concurrently, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker characterized the Iranian initiative as an attempt to project a positive image on the international stage rather than a genuine concession.

What happens next depends entirely on whether international mediators formally transmit Washington's rejection to Tehran and whether either side is willing to modify its baseline demands regarding the nuclear program and regional security. Observers will be closely monitoring upcoming diplomatic exchanges facilitated by Oman, Qatar, and Pakistan as the expiration of the current political window approaches.