US President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s proposal for a seven-day ceasefire and reportedly told aides that he expects to resume bombing Iran after the November 2026 midterm elections, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing US officials.
The report comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between Washington and Tehran, which has been ongoing for nearly seven months.
Trump reportedly confirmed his rejection of Iran’s proposal while speaking to reporters outside the White House on Saturday, saying: “I reject their proposal.”
IRAN’S SEVEN-DAY CEASEFIRE PROPOSAL
Iran reportedly submitted a seven-day roadmap to the United States through Qatar, which has been acting as a mediator.
Under the proposal, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore normal maritime passage within a week, while nuclear negotiations with Washington would resume on the seventh day.
In exchange, Tehran reportedly demanded that the United States:
1. End its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
2. Lift sanctions affecting Iranian oil exports.
3. Release approximately $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets.
4. Agree to a ceasefire covering the region, including Lebanon and Yemen.
WHY TRUMP REJECTED THE PROPOSAL
According to the WSJ, Trump is sceptical that Iran would meet his demands, particularly regarding the dismantling of its nuclear programme.
The US president has maintained that any agreement must address Iran’s nuclear ambitions. However, Iran’s proposal would have reopened the Strait of Hormuz and restarted negotiations before a final nuclear agreement was reached.
The report also said Washington had indicated to Tehran and mediators that Trump did not intend to lift the naval blockade.
TRUMP REPORTEDLY EXPECTS TO RESUME BOMBING AFTER MIDTERMS
The most significant revelation in the WSJ report is that Trump has reportedly told aides he expects US bombing of Iran to resume after the November midterm elections.
However, the report did not establish the scale of any potential renewed military campaign. It also noted that Trump’s position could change over the coming weeks as diplomatic efforts continue.
IRAN SAYS IT DOES NOT TRUST WASHINGTON
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran remains willing to negotiate but does not trust the United States because of previous experiences.
Iran has also argued that the US naval blockade and sanctions must be addressed before normal maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz can resume.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical international shipping route for global energy supplies. Its continued disruption has raised concerns about oil shipments and the wider economic consequences of the conflict.
