BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 1. US President Donald Trump has rejected an Iranian proposal concerning the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, saying the offer did not go far enough and that Tehran’s economic situation remains under severe pressure.
Trump made the remarks in an interview with TIME conducted at the White House on September 28 and published on October 1. He said Iran wants an agreement but that he is seeking what he described as a “real deal”.
Trump said he had seen some, but not all, of Iran’s proposal concerning the Strait of Hormuz and described it as “simply not enough”. The proposal has been conveyed through Qatari mediation and is linked to efforts to reopen the strategic waterway and reduce the economic pressure on Iran.
The US president also said renewed attacks on Iran after the November midterm elections were “possible”. He said Washington had significant quantities of weapons and was stockpiling supplies for distribution to US allies, while rejecting reports of major ammunition shortages.
Trump reiterated that Iran should not possess nuclear weapons and said the conflict could have further consequences for the country if an agreement is not reached.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said the United States had closed the waterway to Iran and was controlling it. Iranian officials, however, have disputed US claims concerning control of the strait, underscoring the continuing disagreement between Washington and Tehran over maritime access.
Trump also said oil prices would decline once an agreement with Iran was reached. The Strait of Hormuz remains strategically important to global energy markets because of the volume of oil and other energy shipments that normally pass through the waterway.
