NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump on September 26 rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week if the US meets certain conditions. Iran oႇered this week to reopen the strait and resume talks on its nuclear program in seven days if the US lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports, waives sanctions on Iranian oil sales and observes a cease¿re that would include Lebanon.
In response Trump said, “They want to make a deal and I think that’s ¿ne. “I’d like to make a deal, too. But that deal would not be acceptable.” Iran effectively closed the strait after the US and Israel attacked the Islamic Republic in late February, and the number of ships passing through has dropped signi¿cantly because of Iranian threats and attacks on vessels in the waterway.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who left New York for Tehran after the annual UN gathering of world leaders, pushed back against Trump’s latest threat to “annihilate” the Islamic Republic, but he ended by saying Tehran remains open to diplomacy.
Before rejecting Iran’s proposal, Trump posted an image on his Truth Social platform of the Strait of Hormuz labeled “Trump Strait.” It is not the first time he has tried to antagonize Iran in this way.
The White House said US oႈcials were having positive and constructive conversations with mediators on the Iran war. Earlier in the week, Iran and the US participated in hours of indirect talks.
Economic pressure
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on September 26 that he had sent envoys around the world to pressure countries to economically isolate Iran, hailing new restrictions targeting the country’s airlines and banks.
“At my direction, teams were dispatched across the globe to engage with countries and demand action against the Iranian regime,” Bessent said on X. “These eႇorts are delivering results.” Bessent noted that Turkey and Oman have halted incoming Àights from private carrier Mahan Air, while the United Arab Emirates has stopped all Àights by Iranian airlines.
Dubai, the UAE’s commercial hub, is a major destination for Iran’s carriers, with multiple daily Àights, a large Iranian community and close business links.
Thd UAE central bank blocked transactions to and from Iran by branches of Iran’s Bank Melli, accusing it of violating laws on money laundering, terrorism and arms proliferation.
‘Supreme Leader fine’
I ranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told CBS that, from his viewpoint as a physician, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has “no specific ongoing health issues” despite not being seen or heard in public since the war with the US and Israel began in February.
In the transcript CBS released, Pezeshkian described his most recent meeting with Khamenei as lasting over seven hours.
“Of course, he was healthy enough to be able to withstand those hours of that situation. From a medical standpoint, he’s completely healthy,” the president said. When asked whether the supreme leader’s face and legs have recovered, Pezeshkian said, “Yes.”
Khamenei’s father and other family members were killed on the opening day of the war in February.
