WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s proposal for a seven-day ceasefire and has privately told aides that he expects U.S. bombing of Iran to resume after the November midterm elections, according to U.S. officials cited by The Wall Street Journal.
Iran’s Seven-Day Ceasefire Proposal
Iran conveyed the proposal through Qatari mediators during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The plan called for a temporary halt to hostilities, including across fronts such as Lebanon.
Under the proposal, Tehran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz after a seven-day process and resume negotiations over its nuclear program. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the initial U.S. steps would take four to five days, the strait would reopen on the sixth day and nuclear talks would begin on the seventh.
In return, Iran requested the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports, easing of sanctions on Iranian oil exports and the release of frozen Iranian assets, reported in some accounts as at least $12 billion.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would meet its commitments if Washington accepted the proposal and would allow U.N. nuclear inspectors under negotiated arrangements.
Trump Rejects the Proposal
The proposal was similar to a memorandum of understanding reached between the two countries in June. That agreement later collapsed following disagreements over maritime routes and the naval blockade.
Trump has publicly said Iran is facing economic pressure and is seeking a deal after the midterm elections. However, U.S. officials said he remains skeptical that Tehran would meet Washington’s demands, particularly over its nuclear program and the free passage of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States has reportedly informed Iran and mediators that Trump does not intend to end the blockade, viewing continued economic pressure as a way to push Tehran toward accepting U.S. demands.
U.S. Warships Move Into the Arabian Sea
The conflict has also affected U.S. military positioning in the region. Several U.S. Navy warships have moved farther from Iranian waters into the Arabian Sea, placing some vessels outside the reported range of Iranian missiles while maintaining a U.S. naval presence in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major point of contention because roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments normally pass through the waterway.
Conflict and Diplomatic Efforts Continue
The conflict began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February 2026 and has continued for about seven months, with periods of fighting, pauses and unsuccessful diplomatic efforts.
The June memorandum was one of the major attempts to reduce tensions, but it eventually collapsed. Iran has since continued to seek negotiations through intermediaries.
Indirect talks on issues including Iran’s nuclear program are still continuing, with U.S. officials describing some discussions as positive and constructive. Iran has said it is awaiting an official U.S. response to its seven-day proposal.
For now, the timing and scale of any future U.S. military action remain unclear, and officials said Trump’s position could change in the coming weeks, including in response to developments surrounding the November midterm elections.
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