Trump rejects Iran’s proposed ceasefire as Tehran sought reopening of the Strait of Hormuz

Donald Trump rejected an offer from Tehran for a seven-day ceasefire, the Wall Street Journal reported. The US president later publicly confirmed that he had rejected the Iranian proposal.

According to US officials cited by the newspaper, Trump told his associates that he expected the bombing of Iran to resume after the midterm elections, which take place in November.

Iran’s plan included reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming talks on Tehran’s nuclear program. In return, the Iranian side sought the lifting of the US blockade on its ports. The offer was conveyed through intermediaries, including Qatar.

“They made a proposal, I rejected it,” Trump said, confirming that he had received an offer from Iran.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has meanwhile expressed a willingness to allow the return of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). However, the manner and conditions of their return can be determined only through negotiations.

The proposal was made amid intense clashes between the two countries, while the Strait of Hormuz continues to be one of the main issues in the conflict. Recent reports indicate that Iran had offered to reopen the strategic waterway within seven days if the United States met certain demands, including lifting the blockade and easing economic pressure.

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

According to the report, the warning did not specify a concrete date, but it was issued at a time when Egyptian authorities had received signals of a possible offensive. The warnings Israel received before the October 7, 2023, attack have also been discussed previously, while their content and interpretation remain the subject of debate.