Iran has insisted that diplomacy is the only way to resolve its conflict with the United States and Israel after US President Donald Trump said he had rejected Tehran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt fighting.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran’s conditions for reopening the strategically important waterway remained unchanged and could only be addressed through negotiations.
“Our conditions are clear, and any move towards reopening the Strait of Hormuz is contingent on these conditions being met,” Araghchi said in a social media post. “Only a negotiated solution can get them out of this deadlock.”
Iran presented its peace proposal at the United Nations General Assembly last week, saying the plan had been conveyed to the United States through Qatari mediators.
Trump said on Saturday that he had rejected the proposal, arguing that Iran was seeking an immediate reopening of the Strait because it was under severe pressure.
However, Araghchi said Iranian mediators had not officially conveyed a US rejection to Tehran despite Trump’s public remarks.
“We are waiting for the mediators to convey the definitive views to us, and we will make a decision based on them,” he said.
The Wall Street Journal previously reported, citing unnamed US officials, that Trump had rejected the Iranian proposal and was privately sceptical that Tehran would meet his demands. Reuters said it could not independently confirm the report.
Earlier, a US official described discussions with Iran through mediators as “positive and constructive”.
Under the proposal outlined by Iranian officials, an agreement could trigger a seven-day countdown towards reopening the Strait of Hormuz and a pause in regional fighting. Tehran has said wider negotiations could then address issues including its nuclear programme.
Araghchi told reporters at the UN on Friday that everything was prepared if Washington was serious about reaching an agreement to reopen the waterway.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also said Tehran was prepared to negotiate over its nuclear programme and other issues, but would not accept what he described as bullying or coercion.
He said Iran was not seeking war but would defend itself against pressure, threats and attacks.
A senior Iranian official separately told Reuters that Tehran would not compromise on what it considers its rights, including uranium enrichment, even if Washington accepted the proposed deal.
The conflict, which began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, has alternated between pauses and renewed strikes. Thousands have reportedly been killed, while Iran’s conventional military capabilities and economy have suffered damage.
The conflict has also spread across the region, with Iran launching attacks on US allies in the Gulf and its Houthi allies in Yemen targeting Saudi interests.
Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that it had intercepted two ballistic missiles and two drones launched by the Houthis towards the kingdom.
The prolonged conflict has disrupted shipping and oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route, adding pressure to the wider economy.
