Trump rejects Iranian plan for a seven-day ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz

Donald Trump has confirmed that he rejected Iran’s offer, which called for a seven-day ceasefire. The news of the proposal was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

According to U.S. officials quoted by the newspaper, the president told his aides that he expects the bombing of Iran to resume after the midterm elections in November.

Tehran’s plan called for the Strait of Hormuz to be opened and talks on Iran’s nuclear program to resume in exchange for the lifting of the U.S. blockade of the country’s ports. The offer was conveyed through intermediaries, including Qatar.

Trump said he had received a proposal from Iran and stated: “They made a proposal, I rejected it.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, for his part, has signaled a willingness to allow the return of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He left open the possibility that the conditions and manner of their return could be discussed during negotiations.

The offer was made during a period of heightened tensions, as the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the main points of conflict between the sides. According to recent reports, Iran proposed reopening the strategic waterway within seven days if the United States met several conditions, including lifting the blockade and reducing economic pressure.

In another development, The Atlantic reported that Abbas Kamel, the head of Egyptian intelligence, had warned Israel on September 26, 2023, of the possibility of an attack by Hamas.

The report said the warning did not specify an exact date, but was issued at a time when Egyptian authorities had received signals of a possible offensive. Warnings that Israel may have received before the October 7, 2023, attack have also been discussed previously; the details and how they should be interpreted remain the subject of debate.