Trump Says He Rejected Iran’s UN Proposal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz and Pause Fighting

# What happened

Iran presented a peace initiative at the UN General Assembly that, according to Tehran, was transmitted to Washington via Qatari mediators. Iranian officials said the plan would trigger a seven-day countdown to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and pause hostilities across the region.

President Donald Trump publicly rejected the proposal in comments at the White House. He described the initiative as driven by Iranian desperation and said the United States was "winning tremendously." He also repeated that the U.S. controls the waterway.

# Why the proposal mattered

Hormuz is a critical shipping lane for global oil flows. Iran's blockade of the strait has drastically reduced shipping through the channel and contributed to global economic strain. A rapid reopening would have immediate economic and strategic implications for energy markets and regional stability.

Iran framed its plan as both practical and immediate. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told reporters at the United Nations that "if there is seriousness on the US side to come to a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, everything is now prepared." He said the proposed deal would start a seven-day countdown to reopening and could lead to wider negotiations on "mutually agreed subjects," potentially including Iran's nuclear program.

# U.S. response and internal views

Trump said: "I reject their proposal.... I rejected their deal. They want to make a deal to open the Hormuz Strait immediately because they're losing so badly." He added: "We're winning tremendously." The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump rejected the plan and was privately skeptical Iran would meet U.S. demands, and that he saw a renewed bombing campaign as likely after the November U.S. midterm elections, according to unnamed U.S. officials.

A U.S. official had earlier described discussions with Iran through mediators as "positive and constructive," indicating there were at least some channels of communication active even as Trump publicly dismissed the offer.

# Iran's position and limits

A senior Iranian official told Reuters Tehran would show no flexibility over its nuclear program even if the U.S. accepted the peace deal, and would not concede rights such as enriching uranium or shipping out highly enriched material.

# The conflict context

The war began on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli attacks. Since then, fighting has alternated between pauses and renewed strikes, causing thousands of deaths, degrading Iran's conventional forces, and worsening Iran's economy. Iran and aligned groups have extended the conflict regionally, including drone and missile strikes against U.S. allies in the Gulf and Houthi attacks on Saudi interests.

# What to watch next

• Whether back-channel talks through Qatari mediators continue despite the public rejection.
• Any immediate changes in shipping or military posture in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
• Potential for renewed strikes or escalations after U.S. domestic political events referenced by U.S. officials.