DUBAI – A top Iranian diplomat revealed Saturday that Tehran has formally proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping and dismantling the U.S. naval blockade, decoupling these steps from thorny nuclear negotiations to jumpstart peace talks – an offer so far dismissed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The plan, communicated via intermediaries, promises no further attacks from the U.S. or Israel in exchange for Iran clearing the vital waterway, which carries 20% of world oil and gas. Nuclear curbs and sanctions relief would follow in separate discussions, with Tehran insisting on its right to peaceful uranium enrichment. “This shifts the toughest issues to a calmer phase,” the official said anonymously, confirming reports of the overture.
Trump, adamant that Iran must never acquire atomic arms, rejected the latest feelers Friday, telling White House reporters: “Do we blast them out forever, or cut a deal?” He prefers diplomacy over escalation “on a human basis” but warned against a quick fix that could revive tensions soon. Speaking in Florida, he stressed no rush, though surging U.S. gasoline prices from the chokepoint crisis threaten Republican fortunes in November midterms.
The conflict, ignited by U.S. strikes in February amid stalled nuclear talks, has killed thousands and shattered energy markets. Iran halted most Gulf shipping two months ago; America countered with its own port blockade last month. A fragile four-week bombing truce with Israel holds, but no broader accord looms, fueling fears of economic fallout.
Trump passed Saturday golfing at Mar-a-Lago, Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, and later Trump National Doral near Miami, site of the PGA Cadillac Championship. He bypassed Congress on war extensions, citing the ceasefire’s end to a legal deadline. Iran maintains its atomic pursuits are civilian-only, while Washington demands ironclad limits.