The United States has rejected Iran’s offer to guard the Strait of Hormuz together, with President Donald Trump saying he would not accept such an arrangement. In response, Iran has said it will wait for an official reply from Washington before proceeding. The Iranian position is that it is prepared to work with the US on securing the strategic waterway, but only if the American government formally agrees.
Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping within seven days has been turned down by President Donald Trump. In response, Tehran has said it will wait for an official reply from Washington.
Trump told reporters at the White House that the proposal was not “acceptable.” He said Iran wanted to make a deal to open the strait immediately because “they’re losing so badly.”
Araghchi’s response
On Telegram, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, admitted that Trump had turned him down. He wrote that Trump “has made many good statements, as well as many contradictory ones, which unfortunately we hear frequently.”
Iran is still awaiting the views of the intermediaries, according to Araghchi, who said that his country will make its decision after hearing what they have to say.
Iran floated the idea of reopening the strait and ending hostilities during UN General Assembly talks in New York. That proposal followed a suggestion from Tehran to restart maritime traffic through the waterway. The strait has remained shut since the conflict began in February.
Conditions match the June memorandum
Araghchi spoke to reporters on Friday and said an agreement could be reached if “necessary conditions are met.” The conditions he mentioned correspond with those laid out in a memorandum of understanding signed between the US and Iran in June.
Trump rejected the deal on Saturday, saying, “I’m rejecting their deal,” and claimed the US already had “total control” of the strait with “massive amounts of oil” passing through.
Sanctions pressure ramps up
Matthew Whitaker, the US Ambassador to Nato, supported Trump’s refusal, noting that Iran had offered “half measures” and “illusory deals to make themselves look good on the world stage.”
On X, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that Turkey, Oman and the UAE had suspended flights from Iranian carriers. He added that some banks in both the UAE and Turkey had ceased doing business with Iran.
The United States refers to its economic pressure on Iran as “Operation Economic Outcast,” with sanctions aimed at Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Experts wonder if sanctions will succeed, pointing to China, the largest purchaser of Iranian oil, which has disregarded earlier US sanctions and kept up trade with Tehran.
Oman’s role
Speaking at the UN General Debate, Oman’s foreign minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, said “all parties” should work alongside Oman on protecting shipping through the strategic waterway.
As a mediator, Oman has been helping to bridge the gap between the US and Iran.
The US has not responded publicly to Oman’s call.
| Party | Position |
|---|---|
| US | Rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the strait |
| Iran | Proposed reopening the strait within seven days; awaits official reply |
| Oman | Called for all parties to work with it on protecting shipping |
Where the paper stands
The paper backs diplomacy and compromise and is against foreign entanglements, including military posturing over the Strait of Hormuz. The US rejection of Iran’s offer to guard the strait together is a step away from the diplomatic path. It puts the region’s shipping at risk without resolving anything.
The US has rejected Iran’s proposal outright, while Iran waits for an official reply. The conditions Araghchi mentioned match those in the memorandum of understanding signed in June, showing there was common ground to build on. Instead, the US has doubled down on sanctions under “Operation Economic Outcast,” targeting Iranian attacks on vessels in the strait.
The paper wants the US to engage with Iran directly rather than reject its offers out of hand. It also wants to see Oman’s mediation role strengthened, as the sultanate has called for all parties to work alongside it on protecting shipping. The US should respond publicly to Oman’s call and use the channel to find a peaceful way forward.
Source material: “Iran says it will wait for official US response after Trump rejects Strait of Hormuz proposal,” the BBC.
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