President Trump has turned down a seven-day ceasefire proposed by Iran.
“I reject their proposal,” Mr. Trump told reporters Saturday when asked about an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after a seven-day truce and return to negotiations. “They want to make a deal where they open the strait immediately because they’re losing so badly. … We’re winning tremendously.”
He continued, “They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal too, but that deal would not be acceptable. … What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. You know why? Because they’re dying. You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in.”
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Mr. Trump has indicated he’s not rushing to reach a deal with Iran.
In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly this week, Mr. Trump said the upcoming midterm elections are not a factor in his military decision-making.
“I’ll be here for two and a half years. The Republican Party is running, and I’ll be helping them, but I am not running. I gave absolutely no credence and will not give credence to the election when it comes to Iran,” he said. “It doesn’t even enter my mind. The only thing that does is that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.”
Republican candidates are heading to Election Day with gasoline prices above prewar levels.
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a major artery for the oil trade, remains lower than before the war started on Feb. 28.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke to reporters at the U.N. about the seven-day proposal.
“If the necessary conditions are met, the strait can be reopened and normal maritime passage restored within seven days,” he said. “The choice now rests with the United States.”
Mr. Trump on Saturday reiterated in a social media post, “IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!!!”
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