Iran Says Diplomacy Is the Only Way Forward After Trump Rejects Hormuz Proposal

Tehran says reopening the Strait of Hormuz remains conditional on its demands, while Washington has rejected Iran's latest proposal to reopen the strategic waterway and resume negotiations.

27 September 2026

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Iran has reiterated that it wants a negotiated solution to its conflict with the United States and Israel after US President Donald Trump rejected an Iranian proposal aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and creating a path towards wider talks.

The proposal was presented by Iranian officials during the United Nations General Assembly in New York and transmitted to US representatives through mediators, including Qatar. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran's conditions for reopening the waterway had been communicated to the mediators.

Trump said on Saturday that he had rejected the proposal, arguing that Iran was seeking an agreement on the strait because of the pressure it was facing.

Iran, however, said it had not yet received a formal rejection through the mediators.

Iran's seven-day proposal

Araghchi told reporters at the United Nations on Friday that Iran had put forward a plan under which the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened within seven days if the United States agreed to Tehran's conditions.

Under the proposal described by Iranian officials, the agreement would also involve a pause in regional fighting and create a path towards broader negotiations. Araghchi said that if Washington showed that it was serious about reaching an agreement, the necessary arrangements were already prepared.

Reuters reported earlier in the week that Iran had offered to reopen the strait within seven days if the United States reduced military pressure and lifted its blockade of Iranian ports. Tehran's proposal had been delivered through mediators on 16 September.

The proposed process could eventually lead to wider negotiations on issues agreed by both sides, including Iran's nuclear programme.

Trump rejects the proposal

Trump said on Saturday that he had rejected Iran's proposal.

He argued that Tehran was seeking an immediate agreement to reopen the strait because it was under severe pressure.

The US president's rejection was also reported by The Wall Street Journal, which cited unnamed US officials. According to that reporting, Trump remained doubtful that Iran would meet his demands. Iranian officials have disputed the suggestion that Tehran is simply seeking relief because of pressure from the US campaign.

Araghchi said on Sunday that Iran had seen Trump's public response but had not received a definitive position through the mediators. He said Tehran would wait for the mediators to communicate Washington's formal position before deciding how to respond.

Iran says reopening Hormuz depends on its conditions

Araghchi said Iran's position had not changed.

In a statement reported on Sunday, he said reopening the Strait of Hormuz would depend on Iran's conditions being met and that a negotiated solution remained the route out of the current deadlock.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has also indicated that Tehran is prepared to discuss its nuclear programme and other issues, but has rejected what he described as pressure or coercion.

The nuclear issue remains one of the central disputes between Washington and Tehran. The United States has repeatedly said Iran must not acquire a nuclear weapon, while Iranian officials have maintained that their nuclear programme is subject to their own conditions.

Why the Strait of Hormuz matters

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy and shipping routes.

Before the current conflict, roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments passed through the waterway. Disruption to shipping through the strait has therefore affected energy markets well beyond the Middle East.

Shipping through the area has fallen sharply during the conflict. The United States has imposed a naval and economic blockade aimed at increasing pressure on Iran, while Washington says it is seeking to prevent further attacks on vessels in the waterway. Trump has repeatedly said that the United States controls the waterway, while Iran continues to use its ability to disrupt shipping as a major source of leverage.

The competing positions have created uncertainty for shipping companies, energy markets and governments across the Gulf.

Qatar and other regional mediators

Qatar has played a role in communicating between Washington and Tehran.

Iran has also consulted Saudi Arabia over the Strait of Hormuz despite the two countries' longstanding rivalry. Gulf states have a direct interest in restoring stable shipping through the waterway, while several of them also host US military forces and have been affected by the wider conflict.

Earlier this month, regional discussions also included proposals for a broader Gulf security framework involving Iran and Arab Gulf states. Reuters reported that Qatar had been promoting a framework combining security arrangements with greater regional economic cooperation.

Washington and Tehran remain far apart

The latest diplomatic effort comes after months of conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel.

US officials have previously described indirect discussions with Iran as positive and constructive, while Trump has continued to demand major concessions from Tehran.

Iran, meanwhile, says diplomacy remains possible but insists that any agreement must respect its stated conditions. The immediate disagreement over the Strait of Hormuz therefore remains unresolved.

For now, Tehran says it is waiting for a formal response through the mediators, while Washington has publicly rejected the proposal.

Iranian military officials have also warned that the country is prepared for renewed US attacks. Reuters reported on Sunday that Iran's armed forces said they were ready for confrontation if Washington launches another attack.

The diplomatic channel remains open, but the two sides have yet to agree on the terms needed to reopen the strategic waterway and move towards broader negotiations.

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