CAIRO — Iran on Saturday awaited an official U.S. response to its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end fighting in the wider Middle East war after the Wall Street Journal reported that President Donald Trump had rejected the deal, Reuters reported.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Friday at the United Nations that the plan, transmitted via Qatari mediators, would trigger a seven-day countdown to reopening the strait and a pause in regional fighting if Washington lifts its blockade on Iranian ports, releases frozen funds and waives oil sanctions. The Journal, citing unnamed U.S. officials, said Trump is privately sceptical Iran would meet his demands and has told aides a renewed bombing campaign is likely after the November midterms.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told CBS’s “Face the Nation” that Tehran is ready for talks on its nuclear programme but will not accept “bullying or coercion.” Araqchi also briefed his Saudi counterpart on safe shipping routes in the strait. Early Saturday, Yemen’s Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted two Houthi ballistic missiles toward Khamis Mushait and two drones headed for Riyadh.
Sources: Reuters
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