President Donald Trump has rejected Iran's offer of a seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. officials cited by The Wall Street Journal. The proposal, conveyed through Qatari mediators at the United Nations, called for a pause in hostilities across the Middle East, including Lebanon, in return for the United States lifting its naval blockade of Iranian ports, easing sanctions on Iranian oil exports, and releasing frozen Iranian assets worth at least $12 billion.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi outlined the framework on Friday, stating that acceptance by Washington would trigger a seven-day countdown leading to the strait's reopening and the start of broader nuclear talks. The plan drew from a June memorandum of understanding between the two countries that briefly eased tensions before collapsing amid disputes over control of the vital waterway.

Trump reportedly told aides he remains skeptical of Iranian compliance and expects U.S. bombing operations against Iran to resume after the November midterm elections. Iranian officials have insisted they will make no concessions on their nuclear program, including uranium enrichment levels.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of global oil transits, has been effectively closed or restricted since the conflict escalated earlier this year, contributing to higher energy prices and economic strain. Trump's decision aligns with his administration's emphasis on maximum pressure against Tehran rather than renewed negotiations that could reward past violations of prior agreements.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian indicated the process would begin immediately upon U.S. acceptance, but the White House has shown no sign of altering its course. The rejection underscores ongoing U.S. efforts to counter Iranian aggression without yielding strategic leverage over critical maritime routes.