US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he had rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and bring about an end to hostilities.
“I reject their proposal … I rejected their deal,” Trump told reporters at the White House in Washington, DC.
Iran had proposed an initiative aimed at reopening the strategic waterway at the UN General Assembly in New York, which it said could put an end to fighting within seven days.
Tehran said the proposal had been transmitted to Washington via Qatari mediators.
“They want to make a deal to open the Hormuz Strait immediately because they’re losing so badly,” said Trump, claiming: “We’re winning tremendously.”
Earlier, a US official had told the Associated Press that discussions with Iran, conducted through mediators, were “positive and constructive.”
But the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was skeptical that Tehran would meet his demands. He reportedly told staff that a renewed bombing campaign is likely following the November US midterm elections.
“They want to make a deal and I think that’s fine, I like making a deal too,” said Trump. “What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait … because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”
More to follow …
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