US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s proposal for an initial seven-day ceasefire, as Tehran has submitted a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under specific conditions.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, citing sources in the US administration, Trump has told associates that he expects US bombing operations against Iran to continue into November, after the US midterm congressional elections.

Reuters noted that it was unable to independently verify the information reported by the American newspaper.

Iran’s proposal for the Strait of Hormuz

Tehran has conveyed to Washington a “specific” seven-day plan for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said from the United Nations headquarters.

“If the necessary conditions are met, the Strait can be reopened and the flow of ships can return to normal within seven days. The choice now belongs to the United States,” the Iranian minister said.

Araghchi said that the actions Tehran is asking of the US side are not new, but are included in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the two sides in June.

Tehran’s conditions for reopening the sea route

An Iranian official told Reuters that his country does not intend to make concessions regarding its nuclear programme, even if the US accepts the proposal to reopen the Strait.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the strategically important sea passage would remain closed until Washington “satisfies all of Iran’s conditions”.

Under Iran’s proposal, hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, would have to end within seven days, the blockade of Iranian ports and oil sanctions would have to be lifted, and frozen Iranian assets would also have to be released.

Tehran’s proposal was submitted as the escalation in the Middle East continues, following seven months of war between the US and Iran.

At the same time, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have launched a barrage of missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia, increasing pressure across the wider region and raising fresh concerns over maritime security.