Trump says he rejected the latest Iranian proposal
· Axios
President Trump said on Saturday that he rejected the latest Iranian proposal that was conveyed to the U.S. during indirect negotiations in New York this week.
Why it matters: While Qatar and other regional mediators are trying to revive negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, the gaps on the key issues are still very wide.
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- While Iran wants to focus any talks on the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. naval blockade, the Trump administration demands the Iranians agree to nuclear concessions.
What he is saying: "They have made a proposal and I rejected it," Trump said.
- But a U.S. official claimed "positive and constructive" discussions are still ongoing between the U.S. and Iran through the mediators, including on nuclear issues.
Driving the news: U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held a new round of indirect negotiations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York this week.
- Qatari officials participated in the negotiations, passing messages between the two parties, sources with direct knowledge said.
- Araghchi gave Witkoff and Kushner Iran's conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming nuclear talks.
- Iran proposed reopening the strait and resuming nuclear talks in a week, if the U.S. lifts its naval blockade, removes sanctions on oil sales and reinstates a ceasefire across the region.
- The U.S. negotiators made it clear to the Iranians during the talks on Tuesday that Iran doesn't control the strait and therefore can't make demands about it, a source told Axios.
State of play: Dozens of oil tankers are transiting the strait each day under U.S. protection, moving millions of barrels of oil to global markets — still well below pre-war volumes but enough to ease some pressure.
- U.S. officials claim that over the last 72 hours around 60 million barrels of oil transited through the Strait of Hormuz.