Iran Awaits US Response Following Reports of Rejected Peace Plan

Iran offered a plan to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States lifts its naval blockade, waives sanctions on Iranian oil sales and observes a ceasefire that would include Lebanon, Tehran said on Friday. Within hours, The Wall Street Journal reported that President Donald Trump had rejected the proposal, citing U.S. officials familiar with the matter who said the president was skeptical Tehran would meet his demands and saw a renewed bombing campaign as likely (The Hindu).

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi detailed the proposal on Thursday during a private gathering on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, according to Trita Parsi, executive vice-president of the Quincy Institute, who attended the session. Parsi said Araghchi suggested a speedy agreement would help Trump ahead of November's midterm elections. The plan strongly resembles a Memorandum of Understanding reached in June that called for a 60-day interim period but quickly collapsed as Iran resumed attacks on shipping in the strait (The Hindu).

Trump posted an image to his Truth Social platform showing the Strait of Hormuz circled and labelled "Trump Strait" (The Hindu). U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that "if there's an opportunity to exchange ideas and messages, we will" (The Hindu). The diplomatic churn coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with the President of Iran on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit (PIB).

Separately, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava reaffirmed India's commitment to strengthening global pandemic preparedness and response while speaking at a UN High-Level Meeting (PIB). Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank remain uncertain about their future after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the UN (AP India). Chinese President Xi Jinping said he would see Trump again soon as he wrapped up his U.S. visit (AP India). The Saudi Grand Mufti told troops to be ready to sacrifice their lives fighting Houthis (Reuters India). It remains unclear how long President Masoud Pezeshkian and Araghchi will stay in the U.S. after Pezeshkian addressed the General Assembly on Wednesday.