Trump rejects Iran ceasefire, expects bombing to resume after the November midterms

U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s proposal for a seven-day ceasefire and told his aides he expects to resume bombing Iran after the November midterm elections, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Tehran’s proposal envisioned a halt to the fighting in the region and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz within seven days — one of the most important routes for global oil and gas transport. The plan was conveyed to Washington through Qatari intermediaries.

In exchange, Iran asked the United States to lift the naval blockade of Iranian ports, ease sanctions on oil exports and unfreeze frozen Iranian assets. The plan also envisioned a halt to the fighting on other fronts in the region, including Lebanon. After the seven-day period, Washington and Tehran would begin broader negotiations, including on the Iranian nuclear program.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the UN that implementation of the plan could begin immediately once the U.S. accepted it, leaving the decision on the deal to Washington. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also said Iranian forces would abide by the plan if accepted by the American side.

But according to the Wall Street Journal, Trump remains skeptical that Tehran would accept U.S. demands on its nuclear program. The U.S. administration has told Iran and the intermediaries that it does not intend to lift the naval blockade, calculating that economic pressure will force Tehran to accept a deal on other terms.

The Iranian proposal came as U.S. negotiators were trying to revive diplomacy with Iran over the nuclear program through talks held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a trilateral meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials, mediated by Qatar, produced no significant progress.