United Nations: Iran is awaiting an official response from the United States to a seven day proposal aimed at stopping the fighting, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and creating a path towards renewed negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi outlined the proposal in New York, saying the seven day process would begin once Washington accepts it. Iran has conveyed the proposal through mediators, including Qatar, as diplomatic efforts continue to find a way to end the conflict.
Under the proposal, Iran would take steps to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days. The waterway would reopen on the sixth day, according to the plan outlined by Araghchi, with talks with the United States beginning on the seventh day on mutually agreed issues.
The proposal also calls for an end to hostilities on several regional fronts. In return, Iran is seeking several measures from Washington, including the lifting of the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, a waiver of sanctions on Iranian oil sales and the release of frozen Iranian funds.
Iran has publicly described the main conditions, although the full text of the proposal has not been made public.
Reports says that Trump had rejected the proposal and expected US bombing to resume after the November midterm elections, citing US officials. There has been no confirmed public announcement from the White House formally rejecting the Iranian proposal.
A US official, speaking anonymously, had previously described the mediated discussions as positive and constructive. Trump also said earlier this week that talks with Iran were continuing and that he believed a settlement could eventually be reached.
The reported rejection therefore remains an important but unconfirmed development. Iran's government is still waiting for a formal US response.
The latest proposal follows an earlier memorandum of understanding reached in June. That agreement provided a 60 day framework for ending military operations, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and holding further negotiations. The earlier arrangement later collapsed.
Iran has said that its latest proposal was transmitted through mediators on September 16. Tehran publicly outlined the seven day plan later in the month, including its offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if Washington reduced military pressure and lifted its blockade.
The nuclear issue remains one of the most difficult parts of the negotiations. A senior Iranian official has said Tehran will make no concessions over what it considers its nuclear rights, including uranium enrichment and the removal of highly enriched uranium from the country.
Trump has continued to insist that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon. The two sides therefore remain divided over both the substance of the nuclear issue and the order in which the wider issues should be addressed.
Iran's proposal places immediate steps such as ending military pressure, lifting restrictions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz before broader negotiations.
Washington has indicated that the nuclear issue must remain central to any settlement.
The Strait of Hormuz is particularly important because of its role in global energy trade. Shipping through the waterway has fallen sharply during the conflict.
Reuters reported on September 22 that only two commodity vessels crossed the strait on the preceding Monday, compared with an estimated prewar average of about 125 large commercial vessels a day.
The disruption has raised concerns about oil supplies, shipping and energy prices. A reopening of the waterway would therefore have consequences well beyond Iran and the United States.
Qatar has played a role in passing messages between Washington and Tehran. Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has held discussions with Iranian officials about efforts to reduce tensions and resume negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also met US envoy Steve Witkoff on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York as diplomatic contacts continued.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has also supported a diplomatic solution and said Tehran is prepared to pursue negotiations.
At the same time, fighting elsewhere in the region has continued. Saudi Arabia said on September 26 that it had intercepted two drones launched towards Riyadh and a ballistic missile launched towards Khamis Mushait by the Houthis.
The attacks add another challenge to efforts to reach a wider regional settlement. The proposed roadmap calls for an end to hostilities on several regional fronts, including Lebanon and Yemen, but it remains unclear how such an agreement would be implemented and monitored.
The immediate question is whether Washington will formally accept or reject Tehran's seven day proposal. The reported rejection by Trump has raised doubts about the diplomatic process, but it remains unconfirmed.
Until the United States gives an official response, the proposal remains a diplomatic initiative rather than an agreed peace settlement. The US response will indicate whether the latest effort can move towards renewed negotiations.