The offer came hours after President Donald Trump confirmed he rejected Iran's proposal to reopen the strait within seven days in exchange for lifting the US naval blockade, releasing frozen assets and easing oil sanctions. "I'm rejecting their deal," Trump told reporters. "They want to make a deal where they open the strait immediately because they're losing so badly." The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump has told aides he expects to resume bombing Iran after the November midterm elections.
Talks have not stopped with the rejection. A US official described discussions with Iran through mediators, including on nuclear issues, as positive and constructive, and US negotiators told Tehran it does not control the Strait of Hormuz and cannot make demands about its reopening, Axios reported. US officials said the flow of tankers through the waterway, about 60 million barrels in the past 72 hours, has lessened the urgency of a deal. Iran says it is still awaiting an official US response.