President Donald Trump said an Iranian proposal that would have led to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz was “not good enough,” adding that renewed US bombing of Iran after the midterm elections was “possible.”
In an interview with Time released on Thursday, Trump was asked why he rejected a proposal from Iran last week that would have reopened the Strait of Hormuz. “Because things that I wouldn’t have approved a year ago I wouldn’t have today,” he replied. “I mean, it was—they made an offer to open up the Strait. You know, you saw some aspects of it, not all. But it’s just, it’s just, it’s not good enough. Nearly.”
Following up, Time asked the President, “Are you going to ramp up bombing after the midterms?” with Trump giving a one-word reply, “possible.”
Last week, Iran sent the US a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear talks in exchange for Washington lifting its blockade, easing sanctions on Iranian oil sales, and restoring a regional ceasefire. On Sunday, Trump said he rejected the Iranian proposal.
Qatari officials also mediated indirect negotiations between Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly summit.
Axios reported that Qatari mediators are continuing to engage separately with the US and Iran and are working on a compromise based on the Iranian proposal.
On Sunday, Trump said he expected talks between the US and Iran this week, a claim denied in Iranian state media. “I expect more talks with Iran [this week]. They want to make a deal, but it is not the deal that I want to make. It is what we would have maybe agreed to a year ago. They overplayed their hand,” Trump said.
On Monday, Iranian state media said no talks were planned. “Iran’s delegation in New York has no plans for negotiations with the United States,” state-run news agency IRNA said.
On Monday, Trump lashed out at Axios on Truth Social after the outlet reported he had offered Iran sanctions relief in exchange for nuclear concessions. The outlet reported that US officials said the President was willing to lift sanctions and unfreeze Iranian assets in return for concrete steps on Iran’s nuclear program. Shortly after the report was published, Trump denied making the offer on Truth Social.
“Axios just released a story that ‘Trump’ offered Sanctions Relief and Frozen Funds to Iran. This is untrue,” he wrote. “I offered them NOTHING! Axios’ story, like most others, is a HOAX, used only for purposes of satisfying their Trump Derangement Syndrome. They should withdraw this fake story, IMMEDIATELY!”
