Iran Says Only Talks Can End War After Trump Rejection

Iran’s foreign minister said only a negotiated solution can end the conflict between the United States and Iran after President Donald Trump rejected a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump Rejects proposal

Trump told reporters at the White House that Iran’s plan was not “acceptable”. He said Tehran wanted to reach a deal to allow commercial shipping through the strait within seven days, adding that Iran was “losing so badly”.

Trump also said the US already had “total control” of the waterway, pointing to large volumes of oil passing through it. He said this had led to sharp rises in global oil prices and increased fuel costs for consumers.

Iran waits for US response

In a post on Telegram, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged Trump’s rejection but said Iran would wait for a “definitive” official US response.

Araghchi said the US president had made “contradictory” statements in the past. He also said the conditions for reopening the strait were the same as those included in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in June between the US and Iran.

Iran said it raised reopening the strait and ending hostilities during negotiations held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York earlier this week.

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital route for global energy supplies, with about a fifth of the world’s gas and oil typically passing through the area. The strait has been effectively closed since war began in February.

Araghchi said the president had made “many good statements” alongside “many contradictory ones”, and that Tehran was waiting for mediators to pass on the US position before making a decision.

President Backs staged MOU talks

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who travelled to New York for the UN general assembly, told the BBC’s US news partner CBS that distrust created by the war must be overcome for talks to succeed.

He said Iran was open to implementing the June MOU in stages to resolve the impasse, but argued the US needed to show it did not plan to overthrow Iran’s government.

Pezeshkian said Trump had “tore up” the MOU when the US resumed its bombing campaign. He questioned whether dialogue could resolve the issue if either side did not follow what had been agreed in writing.

The president was also asked about reports concerning Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has been injured since a US strike in February killed his father. Reports have said the injuries affected his legs and face and he has not been seen in public since.

Pezeshkian said he had met the supreme leader twice and told CBS that there were “no specific ongoing health issues or challenges”. He said he had been well enough to conduct seven hours of talks.

Mediation, Nato backing and new sanctions

Oman, which has been acting as a mediator between the US and Iran, urged all parties to continue open dialogue. Oman’s foreign minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, told the UN General Debate that “all parties” should cooperate with Oman to safeguard navigation in the strategic waterway.

Trump’s rejection was backed by the US ambassador to Nato, Matthew Whitaker. Speaking to Fox News, Whitaker said Iran had put forward “half measures” and “illusory deals” to improve its standing internationally, and said Trump was right to reject the proposal.

The Trump administration has also described an economic blockade on Iran as “Operation Economic Outcast”, linking pressure to stopping attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

On Saturday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said US sanctions were taking a toll on Iran. He posted on X that Turkey, Oman and the United Arab Emirates had halted flights from various Iranian airlines, and that some banks in the UAE and Turkey had stopped transactions with Iran.

Some economists have questioned whether the latest sanctions will be effective, arguing their impact depends on whether major trading partners respond. China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, has ignored previous US sanctions and continued buying from Tehran.

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27 September 2026