Trump rejects Iran ceasefire proposal, expects strikes to resume after midterms: WSJ

WASHINGTON, Sept 26: US President Donald Trump has rejected an Iranian proposal for a seven-day ceasefire and told aides he expects US bombing of Iran to resume after the November midterm elections, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing US officials.

Under Tehran’s proposal, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened and nuclear negotiations resumed in exchange for Washington lifting its blockade of Iranian ports, according to the Journal. Iran had previously indicated that it could reopen the strategically important waterway within a week if the United States eased military pressure and lifted the blockade.

Trump has publicly said Iran is seeking a deal, but according to the officials cited by the Journal, he remains privately skeptical that Tehran would accept his demands concerning its nuclear program. The scale of any potential renewed US strikes remains unclear, with officials saying Trump is reluctant to resume major combat operations in part because Washington wants to preserve dwindling munitions for other contingencies. The Journal reported that his position could change in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran was prepared to negotiate limits on its nuclear program within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. In an interview with CBS News, Pezeshkian said Iran was prepared to allow nuclear inspectors under arrangements reached through negotiations and acknowledged an “atmosphere of distrust” between Tehran and Washington.

Pezeshkian said Iran’s position was that its nuclear activities could be addressed through the NPT and existing international frameworks. His comments came as Iranian officials continued diplomatic efforts over the Strait of Hormuz and the conditions for ending hostilities.

However, Reuters reported Friday that a senior Iranian official said Tehran would make no concessions on its nuclear program even if Washington accepted the proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The official said the waterway would remain closed until all of Iran’s conditions, including lifting the US blockade on Iranian ports, were met.