In short
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is waiting for mediators to convey a definitive US position before it decides on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
- US President Donald Trump said on Saturday: “I’m rejecting their deal,” after describing Tehran’s proposal as not “acceptable”.
- The Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of the world’s gas and oil supply usually flows, has been effectively closed since the outbreak of war in February.
- Araghchi said the conditions for opening the strait were the same as those in a US-Iran memorandum of understanding signed in June.
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Turkey, Oman and the United Arab Emirates had halted flights from various Iranian airlines.
Iran says it will wait for mediators to convey a definitive US position before deciding on its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping within seven days, after President Donald Trump rejected the offer. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Trump of making contradictory statements. Oman is mediating.
What did Donald Trump say about Iran’s proposal?
Trump told reporters at the White House that Tehran’s proposal was not “acceptable”, saying Iran wanted to make a deal to open the strait immediately because “they’re losing so badly”. On Saturday he said: “I’m rejecting their deal,” adding that the US already had “total control” of the strait, with “massive amounts of oil” passing through it.
US ambassador to Nato Matthew Whitaker backed the rejection, telling Fox News on Saturday that Iran had offered “half measures” and “illusory deals to make themselves look good on the world stage”. “President Trump’s right to reject it,” he said.
What has Iran said?
Araghchi wrote on Telegram that Trump “has made many good statements, as well as many contradictory ones, which unfortunately we hear frequently”. He added: “We are waiting for the mediators to convey the definitive views to us, and we will make a decision based on them.” Iran says it raised reopening the strait and ending hostilities during negotiations on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, an offer Tehran said would reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week.
What conditions has Tehran attached to reopening the strait?
Araghchi told reporters at the UN on Friday that an agreement could be reached if “necessary conditions are met” between the two countries. He said the conditions to open the strait were the same as those included in a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran signed in June.
How has the closure affected energy supplies?
The Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of the world’s gas and oil supply usually flows, has been effectively closed since the outbreak of war in February. The disruption has fed through to energy markets, with oil topping $105 as the closure lifted borrowing costs.
What economic pressure is the US applying?
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Saturday that economic pressure from the US was taking a toll on Tehran. Posting on X, Bessent said Turkey, Oman and the United Arab Emirates had halted flights from various Iranian airlines, and that some banks in the UAE and Turkey had stopped transactions with Iran.
The Trump administration has dubbed an economic blockade on Iran “Operation Economic Outcast” and is using sanctions to push Tehran to stop attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Some economists have questioned whether the latest sanctions will be effective, since this depends on the reaction of Iran’s major trading partners. These include China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, which has ignored previous US sanctions. Central banks have also been tracking energy costs, with the Fed and the Bank of England weighing rate rises as oil prices surged.
What role is Oman playing?
Oman has been acting as a mediator between the US and Iran and has called for all parties to continue having open dialogue to resolve the crisis. Oman’s foreign minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, told the UN General Debate that “all parties” should cooperate with Oman in efforts to safeguard navigation in the strategic waterway.
Frequently asked questions
Did Iran and the US agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz?
No. Donald Trump rejected Iran’s proposal, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is waiting for mediators to convey a definitive US position before making a decision.
Why does the Strait of Hormuz matter?
Around a fifth of the world’s gas and oil supply usually flows through the waterway, which has been effectively closed since the outbreak of war in February.
Who is mediating between the US and Iran?
Oman has been acting as a mediator and has called for all parties to keep open dialogue. Oman’s foreign minister urged “all parties” to cooperate in safeguarding navigation in the strait.
What sanctions is the US using against Iran?
The Trump administration calls its economic blockade “Operation Economic Outcast”. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Turkey, Oman and the United Arab Emirates had halted flights from various Iranian airlines and some banks had stopped transactions with Iran.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. Globe World — Jo%E3o%20Silas / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)