Trump turns down Iran's ceasefire offer
Citing unnamed US officials, The Wall Street Journal reported that President Donald Trump turned down an Iranian offer of a seven-day truce and will probably order strikes on Tehran again once the November US midterm elections are over. According to the report, Trump — who has pledged that Iran will never get a nuclear weapon — doubted Tehran would meet his conditions and views another bombing campaign as likely. On Truth Social he also shared a map on which the Strait of Hormuz was circled and labeled "Trump Strait."[S1]
Iran's seven-day plan for the Strait of Hormuz
Iran's counteroffer involved reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and halting the hostilities that erupted on February 28, when American and Israeli forces launched joint attacks on Iran. Under the plan, it would be implemented within seven days provided Washington accepted Iran's terms. Speaking to journalists at the United Nations on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had passed a specific seven-day proposal to the US via Qatar, and that if the required conditions were fulfilled, the waterway could be reopened and normal shipping resumed within a week. He stated that the decision now lay with Washington, that Iran rejects pressure, threats or intimidation, and that it will not give up its sovereign rights under duress. He added that if the US is serious about reaching an agreement and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, all is in place.[S1]
Conditions, a collapsed deal, and what comes next
Tehran had previously indicated it would reopen Hormuz, the world's most critical energy artery, and return to nuclear negotiations within seven days on condition that Washington ends its naval blockade, drops oil sanctions and honors a ceasefire covering Lebanon. Iran's foreign minister raised the offer during a private meeting on the margins of the UN General Assembly. On June 17 the two countries signed a 14-point agreement to halt the Middle East war, calling for an immediate end to military operations, Lebanon included, and committing both sides to seek a final deal within 60 days. Yet on July 8 Trump declared the agreement finished, and a week later Tehran suspended the memorandum of understanding, saying Washington had breached every commitment.[S1]
